Western circles, including the European Union, continue their provocations and pressure attempts against Azerbaijan ahead of the COP29 conference. This time, the baton of the "black PR" and slander campaign against our country has been taken up by Nicholas Schmit, the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights.
During discussions in the European Parliament on October 22, he made statements about human rights violations in Azerbaijan and politically motivated criminal cases against political activists and human rights defenders that were not based on facts.
First of all, Nicholas Schmit is grossly interfering in the internal affairs of an independent country, discussing topics he is not deeply familiar with and presenting statements based on a predetermined narrative. On the other hand, if the European official is particularly sensitive about human rights issues, it would be beneficial for him to examine the human rights situation in the European Union, where he resides and works.
For some reason, the Luxembourgish commissioner has not protested against the dire human rights situation in neighboring France during these years and has quietly overlooked incidents involving loss of life.
It would be pertinent to remind the European commissioner of the fate of the "Yellow Vests" movement, which arose in November 2018 in response to the economic and social policies of French President Emmanuel Macron. At that time, the French government not only failed to meet the social demands of the protesters but also resorted to excessive force against them. For example, one of the most active members of the movement, Jérôme Rodrigues, lost an eye in 2019 when police fired a traumatic weapon during a protest in Paris. Instead of apologizing for the excessive use of force by the security forces, France's Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin took the opportunity to sue Rodrigues for "resisting a representative of the authorities," claiming he had called the police a "Nazi gang."
Furthermore, in February 2020, Erik Drue, the founder of the "Yellow Vests" movement, was forcibly removed from the annual International Agricultural Show in Paris, which was attended by President Macron. When he attempted to defend his rights, he was subjected to an investigation under the charge of "resisting a representative of the authorities," and a trial was held against him.
Repressions by the police and other power structures, biased verdicts by judicial authorities against members of the "Yellow Vests" movement, long-term restrictions related to the "COVID-19" virus, etc. thanks to the steps, Macron's rule weakened the intensity of the movement, which continues today, but could not eliminate it. Sociological opinion polls have revealed that more than 40% of French people still support the Yellow Vests movement.
I wonder if Nicolas Schmitt has expressed concern about this wave of repression in France. In the actions, at least 11 protesters were killed, nearly 1000 people were injured, 30 people lost their eyes, etc. did he feel regret and protest when he suffered serious injuries?
Or, what does the "island lover" Nicolas Schmitt think about the recent protests in the French overseas colony of New Caledonia, the use of force against the local Kanak people, and the political arrest of pro-independence supporters?
The French authorities have imprisoned Kristian Teni, the president of the Caledonian Union Party, and ten other members of the liberation movement—Brenda Wanabo, Frédérique Muliava, Guillaume Vama, Joël Tjibaou, Yewa Waetheane, Steeve Unë, Dimitri Tein Qenegei, Gilles Joredie, and others—since June, transferring them over 17,000 kilometers away from their homes to mainland France. This wave of repression, a product of neocolonial political thinking, has not provoked any protests within the EU and has been met with indifference.
In this situation, Nicholas Schmit, who presents himself as a champion of human rights, has never once spoken out against the imprisonment of these political prisoners, who are held on fabricated charges of inciting unrest. The 70-year-old politician has yet to express concern about the rising Islamophobia, racism, Turkophobia, and the newly emerging Ukrainophobia in a European Union where nationalist parties are gaining more votes each year. He has not acknowledged that the human rights situation on the "old continent" has deteriorated to a troubling extent.
Instead, it targeted Azerbaijan, the most stable country in the South Caucasus, far from the sharp political polarization of society, and became an element of a planned smear campaign against official Baku.
It would be more useful for the EU commissioner to spend his energy on the agenda issues arising from his direct responsibilities, for example, reducing the unemployment rate in the European Union, instead of talking about issues that are not within the scope of his powers. According to the latest statistical information released by the European Union on October 8, 13 million residents of the Union, i.e. 5.9% of the economic block, are unemployed.
Against this background, the statements made by the EU commissioner and different politicians of different colors and attempts to teach a lesson in democracy seem ridiculous and frivolous.