France advises its nationals not to travel to Azerbaijan, due to a “risk of arrest” and “arbitrary detention”

Any French national arrested is exposed to “provisional detention, or a ban on leaving the country, the duration of which may extend over several months”, according to the Quai d’Orsay.

A warning strongly denounced by Baku. France advised its nationals, on Thursday, September 5, not to travel to Azerbaijan, “except for compelling reasons”due to a “risk of arrest, arbitrary detention and unfair trial”.

“French nationals, including dual nationals, whether resident or passing through, are exposed to the risk of arrest, arbitrary detention and unfair trial in Azerbaijan”according to a new travel advisory published by the crisis and support center of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “This risk may particularly concern people making a simple tourist visit or a business trip”adds the text, specifying that“in the event of arrest or detention, respect for fundamental rights is not guaranteed.”

In its warning, Paris considers that any French person arrested is exposed “to provisional detention, or a ban on leaving the country, which may last several months; to heavy sentences, to prison terms at the end of trials which may not respect the rights of the defence”.

“We strongly condemn the severe travel warning”reacted the spokesman of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denouncing “unfounded allegations” and calling on Paris to put an end to the “smear campaign”He also sees this as an intention on the part of France to “further deteriorate its relations with Azerbaijan”. “So far, only one citizen of the French Republic, Martin Ryan, has been arrested in Azerbaijan on suspicion of committing an act [d’espionnage] forbidden.” The spokesman also mentioned the arrest of another French citizen. “for an act committed in the Baku metro.”

The travel warning comes amid already strained bilateral relations. Baku criticizes France for being a major ally of Armenia, which for three decades supported separatists in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was eventually fully recaptured by the Azerbaijani army in September 2023. Paris, for its part, has accused Baku of seeking to interfere in its domestic politics, particularly during the crisis in New Caledonia, a French overseas territory rocked by a deadly revolt since May.