Famous Astronaut Refuses to Attend Azerbaijan Due to Aggression Against Armenia

American famous astronaut Garrett Reisman has refused to participate in the International Astronautical Congress taking place in Azerbaijan, emphasizing the military aggression of that country against Armenia.

The astronaut made the announcement on his Twitter account. He stated, “Why is the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) being held in Azerbaijan—a country that is guilty of recent military aggression against its neighbor Armenia? Azerbaijan is one of the most corrupt countries, having some of the worst human rights records in Europe. I am not going, and if you are planning to go, please reconsider.”

He also reminded that Azerbaijan's military aggression against Armenia began last September and was condemned by the European Parliament.

The astronaut shared several reports and assessments from international organizations, noting that in Transparency International's 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index, Azerbaijan ranks poorly, coming in at 128th out of 180 countries.