BIG Executive Director: ‘We strongly condemn detention of activists in France’

“We strongly condemn the detention of members of the Nazione movement by the French police in Corsica, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group, Abbas Abbasov, told Report.

According to him, the organization he leads strongly condemns the unjustified arrest of the activists of the movement and their family members and demands their immediate release.

"Such political arrests and violence continue in other colonial territories as well. France must respect the right of its colonial peoples to express their opinions freely." Abbasov said.

He noted that the French police today detained 2 members of the "Nazione" movement, which was formed a few days ago in Corsica, consisting of 600 people: "Their spouses were also summoned to the commissariat. Violence was committed against members of the freedom movement in front of their young children. Another member of this movement is currently being interrogated."

The executive director emphasized that the French government is trying to crack down on the independence movement in New Caledonia and create a counter-front for those fighting for independence.

"Two draft laws related to New Caledonia have been submitted to the government. The first draft demands an amendment to the constitution to increase the number of voters in local elections in Caledonia, and the second requires a change in the date of local elections. Both bills will be submitted to the French Parliament in the near future," Abbasov added.