Russian envoy summoned to Azerbaijani foreign ministry over lawmaker’s remarks

Panorama, Armenia
Jan 27 2021

Russian Charge d’Affaires in Baku was summoned to the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan over lawmaker Vitaly Milonov’s remarks towards the republic, the Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday, according to TASS news agency. 

"During the meeting, the Charge d’Affaires was faced with the question regarding State Duma deputy from the United Russia faction Vitaly Milonov’s use of unacceptable expressions towards the Azerbaijani people and state in an interview to Armenian media. Such behavior of a State Duma member was decisively condemned," the announcement says.

According to the Foreign Ministry, "Milonov’s another provocative step contradict the high level of relations between the two states."

The Ministry also noted that the lawmaker’s opinion does not reflect the official Moscow’s position, adding that "such steps intend to harm the relations between the two countries and to prevent the implementation of the achievement agreements [on Nagorno-Karabakh]." 

In October last year, the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan declared Milonov a persona non grata over an unauthorized visit to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS