Azerbaijan bans MEPs from entering country over PACE vote

Azerbaijan has barred several MEPs from entering the country following their vote against the Azerbaijani delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Aykhan Gajizade, the head of the press service at Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, last week announced that those who opposed Azerbaijan’s delegation would be deemed persona non grata. They will be prohibited from entering Azerbaijan until the delegation’s mandate in PACE was restored.

The move follows criticism from German MEP Frank Schwabe, who on August 23 accused Azerbaijan of showing disinterest in joining the Council of Europe and neglecting its values. Schwabe also noted that PACE was not invited to observe the Milli Mejlis elections.

Gajizade dismissed Schwabe’s comments as “biased” and “false,” clarifying that the reason for the absence of PACE observers was the unresolved status of Azerbaijan’s delegation mandate. He emphasized that the issue remained despite assurances from various political officials, including those from Germany.

Gajizade also confirmed that MEPs who voted against the Azerbaijani delegation would be restricted from entering Azerbaijan during the ongoing mandate dispute, including those intending to visit in connection with COP29.

PACE data indicates that 76 MEPs supported the decision that led to Azerbaijan’s response.