The Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan criticized the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for ignoring reports of police violence during the protests in France. Azerbaijani deputies accused European structures of double standards on issues of protecting human rights. The corresponding statement was published on the parliament’s website.
The statement says that Azerbaijani deputies strongly condemn the position of the EP and PACE, which, in their words, “are mired in corruption, are experiencing a moral collapse” and prefer not to notice what is happening in France. Separately, the text mentions a “selective approach to the issue of human rights and double standards.”
Azerbaijani parliamentarians stated that the French authorities failed to protect peaceful demonstrators, including minors, from the excessive use of force by the police, and citizens and their property from violence during the unrest. The deputies called for those responsible for the violations to be held accountable and for an independent international investigation to be conducted. They also raised the question of the political responsibility of the country’s leadership headed by Emmanuel Macron.
Earlier, in September, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, called the European Parliament a “nest of bribe-takers.” He claimed that suitcases with millions of dollars were being carried out of the house of the former Vice-President of the European Parliament, and the case was subsequently “hushed up.”
Mass protests in France began in September amid dissatisfaction with the state of the education system. Later, citizens protesting against the rising cost of living and fuel prices joined the demonstrations. On October 17, the actions covered major cities of the country and were accompanied by clashes with the police, arson, and pogroms. President Emmanuel Macron promised to hold those responsible for the unrest accountable.
