Azerbaijani delegation ceases its engagement with PACE

ArmInfo.The delegation of Azerbaijan in PACE issued a statement about suspending cooperation 

with the organization without waiting for the decision of the plenary session.

"No one in the world, including those sitting in this hall, can speak 

to Azerbaijan in the language of threats and blackmail. Throughout 

the history of PACE, this organization has never had such a shameful 

behavior.  In the conditions of the intolerant environment of racism, 

anti-Azerbaijanophobia and Islamophobia that has formed in PACE, the 

Azerbaijani delegation decides to cease its engagement with and 

presence at PACE until further notice," the statement reads, as cited 

by Interfax.

Yesterday the PACE Monitoring Committee considered that the powers of 

the Azerbaijani delegation should not be approved for at least one 

year. In what form PACE will limit the powers of Azerbaijani 

parliamentarians will be known based on the results of today's 

debate. The powers of the Azerbaijani delegation may be fully or 

partially limited by a decision of the plenary meeting.

German MP Frank Schwabe initiated to limit Azerbaijan's powers. He 

cited the ongoing human rights violations and the growing number of 

political prisoners in Azerbaijan as the reason, as well as the 

refusal of official Baku to invite the PACE delegation to evaluate 

the upcoming presidential elections on February 7. He also mentioned 

Azerbaijan's refusal to allow PACE speakers into the Lachin corridor 

in 2023. "The speakers of our assembly were not given the opportunity 

to visit the Lachin corridor three times in 2023. And today the 

European Council does not receive an invitation to monitor the 

presidential elections in Azerbaijan," the German MP said. According 

to  Schwabe, this is a clear and unforgivable violation of all laws 

on cooperation, an attempt to undermine the activities of the 

European Council and act against all other organizations, including 

the OSCE. According to the German legislator, the Azerbaijani 

delegation should bear direct responsibility for all this and its 

powers should be suspended. Schwabe called on PACE members to give a 

clear answer. At the suggestion of the chairman, the issue was 

submitted for consideration to the PACE Monitoring Committee by an 

overwhelming majority of votes of the MPs present in the hall.