BIG condemns Corsican Assembly legislative initiative related to so-called 'Artsakh'

The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) has strongly condemned the preliminary legislative initiative adopted by the Corsican Assembly concerning the so-called "Republic of Artsakh" and Armenian citizens facing criminal prosecution in Azerbaijan.

According to Report, in its statement, the group described the initiative as biased, provocative, and politically motivated.

"The initiative contradicts fundamental principles such as sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs, while also repeating geopolitical narratives promoted by official Paris. The actions of those supporting this initiative cannot be regarded as an independent expression of the political will of the Corsican people," the statement said.

The statement also noted that the hypocrisy of this position is particularly striking.

"According to Article 2 of the Constitution of France, French is the only official language of the Republic. French judicial authorities annulled provisions recognizing Corsican and French as languages of debate in the Corsican Assembly and as working languages of the Corsican Executive Council. In June 2025, the French Council of State rejected an appeal filed by Corsican authorities against these decisions.

Furthermore, France signed the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 1999 but has still not ratified it. The Council of Europe classifies Corsican as a historical regional language potentially covered by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Before adopting initiatives concerning the South Caucasus, these representatives should answer several questions: Why do they continue to submit to a state that denies the Corsican language equal institutional status? Why do they not show the same determination in opposing the centralizing and targeted assimilation policies pursued by official Paris? Why, while using decolonization rhetoric abroad, do they turn a blind eye to the ongoing consequences of French rule over Corsica's identity, education, language, and political expression?" the statement said.

It was emphasized that BIG makes a clear distinction between the Corsican people and those who, in the interests of the French government, choose political submission to Paris instead of defending Corsica's national interests.

"The Corsican people deserve representatives who protect the Corsican language, support Corsican culture, and consistently defend the people's right to determine their political future, rather than representatives who have become instruments of French foreign policy. The Baku Initiative Group calls on the Corsican Assembly to focus primarily on unresolved issues concerning the rights of the Corsican people. The Assembly should demand from France full institutional recognition of the Corsican language, guarantees for its unrestricted use in education, administration, and public life, ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, protection of the national identity and culture of the Corsican people, genuine respect for the political will of the Corsican people, and their right to self-determination."

The Baku Initiative Group called on the Corsican Assembly to safeguard its political and institutional independence and prevent itself from becoming an instrument for promoting the national agenda of the French state.