BAKU, September 14. /TASS/. Azerbaijan will suspend its activity in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, according to a decision made by the country’s parliament on Monday.
The decision was made in response to a resolution adopted by the European Parliament (EP) on Azerbaijan on September 10. "The European Parliament’s resolution is evidence that campaign on discrediting Azerbaijan has become extremely offensive," the document said adding that the resolution attempts to undermine Azerbaijan’s authority and isolate it from integrating into Europe. The document added that the European Parliament chairman imposed an unofficial ban for EP members to visit Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani parliament demanded to put an end to destructive actions and a biased campaign against Baku. The decision was made to suspend participation of the Azerbaijan’s delegation in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly. The cabinet of ministers was also tasked with "banning European Parliament members from entering the country in case of imposition of sanctions against Azerbaijan’s officials."
On Friday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution criticizing the situation with human rights in Azerbaijan. The resolution demands to release with no preconditions a group of human rights activists and journalists convicted in the country for different criminal offenses. The document also calls for imposing targeted sanctions against Azerbaijani officials "who violate human rights." The resolution calls for international organizations not to send observers to the parliamentary elections in the country scheduled for November 1.