Speaking at the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum, President Ilham Aliyev stated that if Azerbaijan’s voting rights in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) are not restored, the country’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe could become an option. The President stressed that Azerbaijan’s complete withdrawal from the organization would not lead to significant changes inside the country. His remarks were widely seen as a political response to what Azerbaijan considers years of biased treatment and double standards within PACE.
In an interview with REAL Television, human rights defender Ahmad Shahidov said that President Ilham Aliyev’s remarks were justified, timely, and appropriate. According to Shahidov, PACE has demonstrated a selective and biased approach toward Azerbaijan for many years. He noted that when Azerbaijan joined the Council of Europe in 2001, one of its primary objectives was to raise the issue of Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories, draw attention to the plight of nearly one million refugees and internally displaced persons, and seek concrete decisions and sanctions against Armenia. However, those expectations were never fulfilled. Instead, PACE increasingly focused on democracy and human rights issues, holding hearings, debates, and adopting resolutions critical of Azerbaijan.
Shahidov emphasized that these developments clearly illustrate the persistence of double standards and selective treatment within PACE. Nevertheless, he believes Azerbaijan should continue defending its national interests on international platforms rather than withdrawing from them. According to him, political and diplomatic efforts against those promoting biased positions toward Azerbaijan should be carried out from within PACE. He stressed that participation in international organizations remains an important tool for presenting Azerbaijan’s position to the world and safeguarding the country’s national interests.
