Azerbaijani ambassador urges Paris City Hall to cancel exhibition on Armenian prisoners

Azerbaijan's Ambassador to France Leyla Abdullayeva has sent a letter to Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire over a planned exhibition dedicated to Armenians convicted of war crimes in Baku, Report informs.

The ambassador published the letter on her X account.

"Through this letter, I wish to express my deep concern and strong objection regarding the joint initiative of Paris City Hall and the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF), which envisages displaying on September 2, 2026, in the square in front of Paris City Hall, images presented as portraits of 'Armenian prisoners detained by Azerbaijan.' First of all, I would like to bring to your attention a number of facts which I hope will help you become more closely acquainted with the current situation," she wrote.

The ambassador stressed that Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan and that the country's territorial integrity is recognized by the international community, including France and Armenia. She also recalled the consequences of the three-decade conflict and noted that, following the restoration of its territorial integrity, Azerbaijan is carrying out large-scale reconstruction work in Karabakh.

According to Abdullayeva, a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia was initialed and a joint declaration was signed at the Washington summit in August 2025, opening a new chapter in relations between the two countries. She also referred to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's August 8, 2026 statement that peace between the two countries was "visible and tangible."

The ambassador noted that the peace process, supported by French President Emmanuel Macron, is based on mutual recognition of territorial integrity and has been confirmed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

"In this new context, the embassy views with particular concern any initiative that could once again bring into Paris's public space a one-sided and conflict-oriented interpretation of the past or narratives that are not in keeping with the spirit of the peace process launched between the two states. We are concerned that, while the authorities of the Republic of Armenia have openly declared at the highest level their readiness to pursue the peace agenda and normalize relations with Azerbaijan, the initiative in question appears to come from organizations representing the Armenian diaspora in France," the letter said.

Abdullayeva also said holding the "exhibition" would run counter to the peace agenda.

"As for the Armenian prisoners, they were charged with serious crimes: crimes against humanity, war crimes, terrorism, as well as an attempt to seize power by force. Among them is Ruben Vardanyan, who was included on the Myrotvorets sanctions list for financing the war against Ukraine. While France firmly supports Ukraine, calling for the release of individuals with such profiles appears contradictory to us," she wrote.

The ambassador added that those tried by the Baku Military Court, including former representatives of the unrecognized regime in Karabakh, had been found guilty of a number of crimes, including acts against peace and humanity.

The diplomat called on Paris City Hall to reconsider its decision to hold the exhibition and cancel it.