Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement sharply rejecting and condemning comments made by Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) President Theodoros Rousopoulos.
Rousopoulos referred to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as a dictator.
Ayhan Hajizadeh, spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, labeled the remarks as “anti-Azerbaijani” and claimed that “over the years, PACE has earned the just hatred of the Azerbaijani people,” according to Vesti.az .
“It is well known that Rousopoulos, Schwabe, and other similar individuals, despite Azerbaijan’s openness to dialogue after actions taken against the country that violated the Council of Europe’s statutes and PACE’s mandate, have continually sought to distort our nation’s stance, which is based on international law and justice,” Hajizadeh stated.
He also stressed that the insulting language directed at the President of Azerbaijan—particularly calling him a “dictator”—was unacceptable.
“Insulting our head of state and calling him a ‘dictator’ is entirely out of bounds—it reflects political ignorance. The hysteria prevailing in the Assembly, led by the dictator Rousopoulos, is a manifestation of PACE’s deplorable internal state. A similar atmosphere exists in the European Parliament,” Hajizadeh added.
Addressing Azerbaijan’s stance on the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Hajizadeh said the country had abstained from voting in the election of ECHR judges and therefore would not comply with the court’s decisions.
He further noted that the names of Theodoros Rousopoulos and the 76 PACE members who supported suspending Azerbaijan’s delegation have already been blacklisted. Hajizadeh warned that Rousopoulos would be deported if he attempts to enter Azerbaijan.
