No:678/23, Press release on the summoning of the Chargés d’affaires ad interim of the United States and Germany to our country, and the Ambassador of France to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
28 November 2023 14:20
On 28 November 2023, the Chargés d’affaires ad interim of the United States of America and Germany, as well as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France, were separately summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meetings, it was stated that the “Abzas Media” news portal had carried out illegal financial operations with the participation of organizations registered in these countries, and that the embassies of the aforementioned countries were also involved in this activity, and strong protest was expressed against this activity.
It was noted that the United States Agency for International Development, Freedom Now, New Democracy Fund and other organizations, in violation of grant allocation rules, carried out the illegal transfer of financial resources to the territory of Azerbaijan and made unlawful contributions to the activities of “Abzas Media.”
It was emphasized that, in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan on grant activity and grant agreements, grant agreements are required to be state-registered in accordance with the relevant procedure, and that allocating funding to projects that have not been registered constitutes a serious violation of the country’s legislation.
In addition, it was recalled that, in accordance with international practice, under the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Media, financing of a local media entity by individuals or legal entities of foreign countries, as well as by state bodies of foreign countries, is not permitted.
It was noted that the aforementioned actions of the embassies of these countries and organizations belonging to them in the territory of our country, which contradict the said legislation, also constitute a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The Azerbaijani side strongly condemned this activity, which contradicts the legislation of our country and is aimed at interfering in the internal affairs of the country, and stated that it reserves the right to take relevant measures in accordance with national legislation in connection with the aforementioned facts.