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.
