Azerbaijan Calls for Sanctions Against France in Response to Senate Resolution Supporting Armenia

Azerbaijani lawmakers have made a call for sanctions against France, responding to a Senate resolution supporting Armenia's territorial integrity. The Committee on International Relations and Interparliamentary Relations of the Azerbaijani Parliament has urged its government to impose sanctions and sever economic ties with Paris.

The friction began with the French Senate's resolution, which not only supports Armenia's territorial integrity but also calls for sanctions against Azerbaijan. In a strongly-worded statement, the Azerbaijani parliamentary committee outlined specific actions, including freezing assets of French officials, expelling French companies, including Total, and preventing their participation in Azerbaijani state projects.

Labeling the French Senate's resolution as "biased, one-sided, and unfounded," Azerbaijani parliamentarians express their discontent as they hold countless Armenians hostage, continue pushing hatred and Armenophobia towards ethnic Armenians, keep their troops on sovereign Armenian lands, and repeatedly make threats.  

On January 17, the French Senate voted 336 to 1 in favor of the resolution, condemning Azerbaijan's military attack on Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) on September 19 and 20, 2023, with support from its allies. The resolution demands Azerbaijan to guarantee the right of the Armenian population to return to Nagorno-Karabakh, emphasizing the importance of their safety and well-being.

The French lawmakers go further, calling for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the sovereign territory of Armenia. They strongly condemn the arbitrary arrests of political leaders in Nagorno-Karabakh, adding a layer of complexity to the already tense situation.

In a move that could impact Azerbaijan economically, the French Senate urges the government to seize the assets of Azerbaijani leaders and impose an embargo on gas and oil imports from the country. This economic pressure adds another dimension to the ongoing diplomatic crisis.