Azerbaijani FM: Recent EU resolution on Azerbaijan testifies to double standards

Adopting the latest resolution on Azerbaijan, the European Parliament has once again confirmed that the West pursues double standards policy towards the country, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Elkhan Polukhov said.

"This action can be judged as unreasonable step that puts into question the independence, fairness and impartiality of the judicial system providing indirect pressure on decision-making of the courts," Polukhov said. He was commenting on the document.

MEPs are concerned over the deteriorating state of press freedom in Azerbaijan and denounce the practice of arrest, prosecution and conviction of opposition journalists on various charges, the European Parliament's resolution posted on the official website of the organization Dec.17 says. In the resolution, MEPs call for the immediate release of imprisoned journalists.

According to Polukhov, not given the fact that appeal mechanisms provided in the national legislation and international law can be used towards all judicial decisions which were indicated in the resolution, the European Parliament has adopted a surprising resolution and voiced ungrounded calls.

"Although the freedom of speech situation in Azerbaijan does not differ from that in other countries of the region and even outperforms on a number of positive indicators, namely our country faces the greatest criticism in this regard that raises questions," Polukhov said.

Recently several European institutions differed in applying double standards towards Azerbaijan and this approach drew attention of local media, he said.

"Recently, your agency [Trend] also wrote that special place is given to Azerbaijan in the critical statements about freedom of speech in the South Caucasus, made during OSCE Representative on Media Freedom Miklos Haraszti's term of office. It was proved that there were no reasons for such differences," he added.

Polukhov said this action once again testifies for double standards policy pursued with regard to Azerbaijan.

/Trend News/