The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry is outraged by the European Union's demand to release journalists and activists

Baku/22.12.23/Turan: Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Ayhan Hajizade commented on the statement of the European Union condemning the arrests of journalists in Azerbaijan. "We strongly reject the unfounded accusations of the European Union regarding the detention of journalists and political activists in Azerbaijan.

We consider such unfounded and biased statements as an attempt to interfere with the independence of the judiciary in Azerbaijan," Hajizade said.

He further recalled the "inadmissibility of interference in the course of the investigation, which contradicts the rule of law." The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry is "worried" about the "violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms of people in Armenia arrested as a result of political persecution, as well as the persecution of politicians and their family members." Baku considers the "indifference" of the European Union to these events to be a "vivid example of double standards."  Hajizadeh further recommends that the European Union pay attention to human rights violations in the EU member states.

"The EU has not yet investigated the murder of 12 participants in the Yellow Vests rally in France, the facts of bribery and corruption in EU structures, the manifestation of Islamophobia and attacks on Muslims. Against the background of the above, such biased and unfair statements by the EU are regarded as interference in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan. These unfounded claims damage the prospects for the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU," the Foreign Ministry said in a comment.

The day before, the European Union condemned the illegal arrests of journalists and political activists in Azerbaijan, demanding their release.-0-