French Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges citizens to avoid traveling to Azerbaijan without urgent necessity
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges citizens to avoid traveling to Azerbaijan without urgent necessity
French citizens, including those with dual nationality, are advised not to travel to Azerbaijan without a compelling reason, a notice from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated September 4. "French citizens, including those with dual nationality, who are residing in or transiting through Azerbaijan, are at risk of arrest, arbitrary detention, and unfair judicial proceedings in Azerbaijan. This risk may particularly apply to individuals making a simple tourist visit or a business trip. In case of arrest or detention, respect for fundamental rights is not guaranteed.
Furthermore, travel to border areas with Armenia, as well as to the former autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the adjacent former districts, is still strongly discouraged," the notice reads. In response, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ayhan Hajiyev criticized the French Ministry's call to refrain from traveling to Azerbaijan as "unjustified." "This unjustified and biased decision and statement by France indicate an intention to further escalate relations with Azerbaijan.
The claims by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs about unwarranted detention and arrest of French citizens are groundless," Hajiyev said. According to him, currently, there are two French citizens in detention in Azerbaijan. One of them, Martin Ryan, has been arrested on charges of espionage.
Another French citizen, Clerk Tego Hugo, has been arrested for property damage (graffiti on subway trains) in Baku’s metro. Hajiyev called on France to "stop its defamatory campaign against Azerbaijan."
Politics
-
Ilgar Mammadov, the leader of the Republican Alternative (REAL) party, has filed a complaint regarding violations during the parliamentary elections in the 22nd Nasimi-Yasamal electoral district, where he was a candidate. The 55-page complaint includes observer reports, 19 video files, and other evidence of violations. "I am requesting the annulment of the election results at 27 out of 38 polling stations," said Mammadov.
-
On September 4, Wafa Nagi, a candidate for the 70th Neftchala electoral district and a public activist, filed a complaint with the district electoral commission regarding widespread violations during the snap parliamentary elections held on Sunday. She announced this at a press conference today. Nagi reported encountering serious problems and obstacles from the start of the campaign due to the actions of representatives of another candidate, the wife of the head of the Civil Solidarity Party, Tanzila Rustamkhanly.
-
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan confirmed that control over the security of transport communications through Armenia's Syunik Province (the Zangezur Corridor) could be transferred to private security agencies.
-
Azerbaijan’s flawed snap parliamentary elections on Sunday delivered the predictable victory to the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) of President Ilham Aliyev. At the same time, the other parties that qualified for seats in 125-seat Milli Majlis are puppet or pocket opposition groups. Also expected was the widespread evidence of fraud at dozens of polling stations under the same old methods that included multiple voting, ballot stuffing, and violence and pressure on independent and opposition observers. The country’s Parliament is a rubber-stamp body, as the real political power is tightly consolidated in the hands of President Aliyev, reads a statement by the Norüegian Helsinki Committe.
Leave a review