A group of Azerbaijani civil society representatives has issued a joint statement saying that they were subjected to violence and suffered injuries on orders of a US congressman, Report informs.
The statement reads, “We, a group of representatives of Azerbaijani NGO, appeal to the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Azerbaijan and declare that we have been subjected to violence by the bodyguards of US congressman Frank Pallone who is visiting Baku.
The Islamaphobic and Turkophobic financial rogue and corrupt US congressman Frank Pallone is a person hating the people of Azerbaijan and all his activities are based on slander against our country. He acts in the interests of the Armenian lobby in the United States and has repeatedly shown utter disrespect for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We regret that the UN has invited such a person to COP29.
We are raising an objection to his visit to Azerbaijan. We held a peaceful protest in front of the hotel where he is staying and demanded that he apologize to the people of Azerbaijan. He is a person patronizing a war criminal. During the occupation in Karabakh, its nature was completely destroyed and the area plunged into an ecological crisis. The fact that the UN has invited such a person to a global environment event dedicated to climate change will go down in COP history as the most shameful incident. During our protest, Frank Pallone ordered his guards to attack us and shied away from answering our questions.
During the peaceful protest, Frank Pallone’s bodyguards inflicted a number of injuries to different parts of our bodies.
Our lives were saved by local law enforcement agencies. Photos and video footage of the protest have been made public. We call for an investigation into these recordings and demand a legal action against Frank Pallone’s security personnel, as well as Frank Pallone himself, who as an illegal infiltrator repeatedly crossed Azerbaijan’s borders during the occupation period.
Frank Pallone must be held to account in Azerbaijan.
We will apply to law enforcement agencies with an official complaint over violence and injuries we have suffered.”
Signed by:
Konul Behdudova - Chairperson of the “Karabakh Missing Families” Public Union
Khatira Valiyeva – Chairperson of the “Khankendi” Public Union to Support the IDPs
Naiba Behdudova – Chairperson of the “Gurur” Martyr Families Charity Public Union
Gamza Yusubova – Chairperson of the Environmental Awareness and Monitoring Public Union
Rahila Mehdiyeva - Chairperson of the “Socioeconomic and Ecological Development” Public Union
Amin Mammadov - Co-founder of the “Environmental Protection First” Coalition
Asim Mammadov - Chairman of the “Youth's Contribution” Public Union
Telman Gasimov - Chairman of the “Scientific Research” Public Union
Naila Ismayilova - New Life Humanitarian and Social Support Public Union
Fatma Hajiyeva – Chairperson of the “Vafa” Public Union to Support the Solution of Social Problems
Fuad Karimli - Activist of the Center for Economic and Social Development Public Union
Elchin Mukhtarli - Chairman of the Health Service Public Union
Zulfiya Nuriyeva – Chairperson of the Public Union to Support Socieconomic and Agricultural Development
Rukhsara Akhundova – Chairperson of the “Konul Evi” Public Union to Help Vulnerable Families
Mehriban Abdullayeva – Chairperson of the “Democratic Society and Protection of Women's Rights” Public Union
Irada Rizazada – Chairperson of the Public Union for the Social Welfare of Citizens
Rashad Mehdiyev - Chairman of the “Gilavar Photo Club” Public Union
Elshad Mammadli - Activist of the Public Union for Civil Enlightenment
Araz Ahmadov - Chairman of the “Social Integration of Boarding School Graduates” Youth Public Union
Jasarat Huseynzade - Chairman of the Public Union to Support Information and Social Initiatives
Mahira Amirhuseyova – Chairperson of the “21st Century Women” Public Union
Adil Adilzada - Chairman of the New Life Economic Development Public Union
Ayaz Huseynov - Chairman of the “Hemophilia Patients” Public Union
Dunyakhanim Aliyeva - Chairperson of the “World, Mother and Children” Public Union.