Reasons Behind the Removal of the Ukrainian Flag from the Front of the French City Hall in Vienne

The mayor of Vienne, Thierry Kovach, has ordered the removal of the Ukrainian flag from the façade of the city hall following a statement made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding cooperation with Azerbaijan. This was reported by RIA Novosti, citing the Dauphiné libéré newspaper.

“One cannot invoke Western values, calling for Western assistance while simultaneously sharing the vision of a regime that is the initiator of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. This form of support for the Azerbaijani dictator is unacceptable. This removal of the flag does not in any way diminish the support that Vienne provides to the Ukrainian people,” the mayor was quoted as saying.

Kovach also emphasized that “one cannot thank Baku” for humanitarian assistance, particularly regarding support in the energy sector, as Azerbaijan “sells gas at one and a half times the price to finance its military efforts against Armenia.”

It should be noted that recently, Zelensky mentioned a phone conversation with Aliyev, during which he expressed gratitude for the humanitarian assistance provided by Azerbaijan, particularly in support of the energy sector ahead of winter. Additionally, the parties exchanged views on regional security, current challenges, and formats for cooperation.