Ankara: Azerbaijan on Friday rejected France's allegations of 'risks of arbitrary detention and unfair trial' to justify its travel warning about the South Caucasus nation. Aykhan Hajizada, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry spokesman, said in a statement that Baku 'firmly' condemned and rejected Thursday's statements by French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux.

According to Anadolu Agency, Hajizada stated that the presentation of court proceedings done in line with Azerbaijani legislation in individual criminal cases on the basis of political considerations, as well as attempts to interfere in Azerbaijan's judicial system, are unacceptable. He criticized France's failure to consider issues within its own law enforcement and penitentiary systems while making such allegations against Azerbaijan.

Hajizada emphasized that France's violations of international law, as well as its practices involving racism, discrimination, and restrictions on human rights, are widely recognized. He called on Paris to refrain from 'groundless and biased allegations,' to respect Azerbaijan's sovereignty and internal affairs, and to 'put an end to approaches that harm bilateral relations.'

On Thursday, when questioned by reporters about the travel warning, Confavreux noted that France generally urged against traveling to Azerbaijan due to the 'risk of arbitrary detention and unfair trial.'