“It Was a Circus”: Aliyev’s Assistant

The assistant to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Hikmet Hajiyev, has responded to remarks made by Nicolas Schmit, the EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, during a speech in the European Parliament. “Some of the discussions in the European Parliament remind us of an absurd theater or circus. The world has witnessed the disgraceful practice of corruption in this institution. Many of those who use these microphones against my country are funded by the Armenian lobby and the PR and lobbying campaigns of the Armenian government,” Hajiyev stated to Politico.

He also advised the EU Commissioner for Human Rights to “seriously address the growing human rights issues in the European Union instead of preaching to others.” Additionally, Aliyev’s assistant reiterated unfounded accusations, promoting anti-Armenian sentiment and referring to Armenian prisoners of war unlawfully held in Baku as “Nazis.” “Calls for the release of Armenian military criminals, who have killed innocent Azerbaijani civilians, are equivalent to releasing Nazi war criminals,” Hajiyev declared.