Council of Europe President on Ongoing Trials in Azerbaijan

As part of the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Armenian National Assembly delegation member Armen Gevorgyan raised a question to Ian Borg, the President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and Malta's Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Trade, noting that shameful trials against Armenian prisoners continue in Azerbaijan, and that the Council of Europe has been unable to influence this situation.

"You know that shameful trials against Armenian prisoners are currently taking place in Azerbaijan. This organization has thus far been unable to exert any significant influence on the Azerbaijani authorities and ensure a fair and dignified resolution to their fate. Why is the Council of Europe unable to affect this situation? What message does this send to those around the world who still believe in democratic values, especially when those values are under intense pressure?" he inquired.

In response, the President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe stated, "We can do nothing more than urge all member countries to adhere to the values that this organization has adopted and fulfill the commitments they have made by joining the Council of Europe. We demand that not only Azerbaijan and Turkey fulfill these commitments but also other countries."