Aykhan Hajizade: Baku resolutely rejects Michael O'Flaherty's biased statement on Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan responded harshly to criticism from a European human rights defender, calling his statement an unjustified interference in the country's internal affairs.

As reported by BAKU.WS, the spokesperson for Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aykhan Hajizade, expressed categorical disagreement with the position of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, regarding judicial proceedings in the republic.

"This statement is another unsuccessful attempt to interfere in the internal affairs and judicial processes of the Republic of Azerbaijan," emphasized the official comment from the foreign policy department.

The statement notes that Azerbaijan fully respects human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with national legislation and international obligations, and their protection is ensured by the country's independent judicial institutions.

Hajizade particularly emphasized that the rule of law in Azerbaijan applies to everyone without exception: "No one receives special privileges in connection with professional activities and is not exempt from complying with the country's laws."

In conclusion, the Foreign Ministry representative called on the Council of Europe Commissioner "to refrain from interfering in ongoing investigations in Azerbaijan's independent judicial bodies," and instead to pay attention to "numerous systematic human rights problems in other CE countries" - Islamophobia, degrading treatment of migrants, political persecution, cases of deaths in prisons, and corruption in European institutions.