The representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Azerbaijan, Hande Harmanci, made a statement to the press regarding the photos spread on the social network, Report says the text reads:
"Dear friends,
I want to clarify the issue of the images that I shared on social media and caused an adverse reaction.
As you know, we are conducting the REACT-C19 project in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the project, 19 Azerbaijani doctors who studied and worked in Turkey are currently visiting various regions and counties to help local doctors.
On June 13, we visited Guba and Gusar districts together with those doctors. The photos and video I shared on social media were taken there.
I accept that I shared these photos at the wrong time, and I apologize for that. "
09:34***
The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Azerbaijan Hande Harmanci shared her travel photos on Instagram during the weekend curfew applied in several cities and regions of Azerbaijan, Report says.
The photos in the forests of Guba and Gusar regions caused public debate and grudge.
Thus, social network users said the WHO representative, who called on people to stay at home in Azerbaijan, breached quarantine rules by traveling from the "orange" zone (Baku) to the "yellow" area.
Harmanci has not yet commented on the issue.
Notably, the Cabinet of Ministers imposed a weekend curfew in Baku, Sumgayit, Ganja, Lankaran cities, Absheron, Yevlakh, and Ismayilli, Kurdamir and Salyan regions to slow down the spread of coronavirus from 00:00 on June 14 to 06:00 on June 16.
Activities in all areas of service, as well as the movement of transport (except for special-purpose cars, emergency vehicles, ambulances, and service automobiles of organizations authorized to operate) in four cities and Absheron region, will be halted from 00:00 on June 6 to 06:00 am on June 8.
Citizens are prohibited from leaving their places of residence on the date as mentioned above, except the cases of imminent danger to their life and health and an urgent need for medical care, and participation in the funeral of close relatives.