Azerbaijan considers procedure of withdrawal from Council of Europe

Azerbaijan is considering leaving the Council of Europe as a response to PACE’s decision not to ratify the credentials of the country’s delegation, Azerbaijani media report, citing an informed source.

Azerbaijan may also refuse to recognize the jurisdiction of the ECHR.

Earlier, it was reported that PACE rejected the ratification of the credentials of Azerbaijan’s delegation because of the country’s failure to fulfill its commitments in the Council of Europe.

By this decision, Azerbaijan was removed from the PACE for at least 1 year, and during that time, it can return only if it fulfills its regulatory obligations. This refers primarily to the obligations of member states to allow PACE to conduct its monitoring missions.

Azerbaijan’s delegation did not wait for the Assembly’s decision, and a few hours before the start of the debate, it officially announced that it would cease its cooperation with PACE.