Head of Swedish delegation to PACE calls out Azeri ‘dictatorship’ for lacking belief in CoE values

YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, ARMENPRESS. Swedish Member of Parliament and chairman of the country’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Markus Wiechel has called out the Azerbaijani ‘dictatorship’ for lacking the belief in the core values of the Council of Europe after Baku blacklisted 76 PACE delegates.

Earlier this year, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe resolved not to ratify the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation, which were challenged on the opening day of the session, concluding that the country has “not fulfilled major commitments” stemming from its joining the Council of Europe 20 years ago. Azerbaijan responded by declaring PACE members who voted in favor of not ratifying the credentials as personae non gratae.  

Markus Wiechel told Armenpress that Baku’s move ‘ironically demonstrates why the delegation lost their voting rights.’

“I appear on the list along with five Swedish colleagues (Beatrice Timgren, Gustaf Göthberg, Kristoffer Lindberg, Azadeh Rojhan and Adnan Dibrani). Our whole delegation voted the same way, which of course I’m both happy and proud to say as Chairman of the Delegation. Ironically, it demonstrates why the delegation lost their voting rights. The Azeri dictatorship lacks the belief in some of the core values of the Council of Europe. Obviously, each member country is obliged to follow some fundamental principles not least regarding democracy and freedom of speech,” Wiechel said in written comments to Armenpress. 

Asked about possible consequences of Azerbaijan’s move, the Swedish MP said “I do believe that this will make it harder for members of other delegations to support them in the future so it just makes their cause more difficult. For my part, I’m known to be a long-time supporter of Armenia, why I don’t think anyone thinks that it would change my perspective. However, there are lots of members that might not have understood how the Azeri government treats those with a different approach.”

Earlier Markus Wiechel said he wasn’t surprised that the Swedish MPs were banned from entering Azerbaijan ahead of COP29. He said the ban was predictable and inevitable given Azerbaijan’s track record. “I have been criticizing the Azerbaijani dictatorship for a long time, and particularly in relation to its attacks on Nagorno-Karabakh,” he said, praising the Swedish delegation for their principled vote.

PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos also reacted to the Azeri blacklist, stressing that doing so “can only backfire.”