BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 10. Signals from
Paris and Bern in recent days have highlighted that some Western
circles continue to apply international law selectively,
Azerbaijani political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.


The analyst criticized a controversial resolution passed by the
French Senate and statements made by Swiss parliament member Erich
Vontobel during meetings in Armenia, calling them not only
diplomatically irresponsible but politically aimed against
Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and the international justice system.


“France’s recent resolution sets a dangerous precedent by
calling for the release of individuals convicted by Azerbaijani
courts for serious crimes. These are not mere political figures; we
are talking about people who have perpetrated ethnic cleansing in
Azerbaijani territories for decades, committed violence against
civilians, and faced formal war crime charges, all of which have
been legally confirmed.


These individuals are not ‘controversial figures’; they are war
criminals under international law. They commanded illegal armed
groups on Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory and played a direct role
in forcing hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from their homes.
Azerbaijani courts have established these facts through extensive
documentation, witness testimony, and evidence, issuing clear legal
verdicts.


In this context, the French Senate’s call for their release is
nothing short of blatant hypocrisy. By doing so, Paris is
effectively signaling that the rights of Azerbaijanis, the rulings
of courts, and the authority of the state’s justice system hold no
significance. For a country that claims to be the ‘cradle of human
rights,’ this stance is a serious blow to its credibility,” he
said.


He emphasized that this move was clearly deliberate, not
accidental.


“France has openly pursued a political agenda in recent years
that defends Armenia’s interests. The military defeat of Armenia
and the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity are
unacceptable in Paris. In response, France has attempted to revive
the status quo through parliamentary resolutions, political
statements, and diplomatic pressure, but such efforts are no longer
feasible.


A similar approach is now emerging in Switzerland. Swiss
parliamentarian Erich Vontobel’s visit to Armenia, where he met
with individuals claiming to represent a so-called
‘Nagorno-Karabakh leadership,’ demonstrates blatant disregard for
international law. No such structure exists. According to the
Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the UN Charter, and
internationally recognized borders, Karabakh is an integral part of
Azerbaijan. There is no ‘leadership,’ ‘state,’ or ‘entity’ there,
and there cannot be.


By engaging in this meeting, Vontobel attempted to give
political legitimacy to separatism. This is dangerously
irresponsible behavior for a lawmaker from a neutral country like
Switzerland. Even more alarming were his statements suggesting that
‘the Karabakh issue has not yet been resolved,’ directly
challenging Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.


In reality, the Karabakh issue has been conclusively resolved
both militarily and legally. Azerbaijan restored sovereignty over
its territories in 2020 and 2023 within the framework of
international law. Armenia has recognized this, and the world,
including the UN, EU, OSCE, and other international organizations,
acknowledges Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. This reality
cannot be undone,” he said.


Garayev added that some European politicians are now attempting
to artificially revive a separatist project that has already been
defeated.


“They portray individuals convicted of war crimes by Azerbaijani
courts as ‘political prisoners,’ attempting to mislead the
international community. The fact remains: these individuals are
accountable for serious crimes. If France and Switzerland truly
defend human rights and the rule of law, they should prioritize the
rights of war victims, the Azerbaijanis. Ignoring the demands for
justice from a population expelled from its homeland, whose homes
were destroyed, and whose cultural heritage was annihilated over
three decades is the clearest example of double standards.


Azerbaijan does not seek special privileges from anyone. It only
demands respect for international law, for court rulings, and for
state sovereignty. The French Senate and the Swiss deputies must
understand that Karabakh has returned. Separatism is history, and
the criminals will face justice sooner or later. Political
resolutions passed in European parliamentary halls cannot change
this reality,” the political analyst concluded.


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