Leyla Abdullayeva, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to France, has responded to statements made by the Paris City Hall regarding Azerbaijan.

Operativ Media reports that the ambassador shared her response in a post on X.

Leyla Abdullayeva brought to the attention of the Paris City Hall that individuals on trial at the Baku Military Court, including former representatives of the separatist regime in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region, have been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

"With this letter, I express my deep concern and strong protest regarding the joint initiative of the Paris City Hall and the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France (CCAF) to display portraits presented as 'Armenian prisoners detained by Azerbaijan' in the square in front of the Paris City Hall on September 2, 2026. First of all, I would like to bring to your attention some information that I hope will help you become more closely acquainted with the current situation," she wrote.

The ambassador emphasized that Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan, and the country's territorial integrity is recognized by the international community, including France and Armenia. She also recalled the consequences of the 30-year conflict, noting that since restoring its territorial integrity, Azerbaijan has been carrying out large-scale reconstruction work in Karabakh.

According to Abdullayeva, a peace agreement was initialed and a joint declaration was signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia at the Washington summit in August 2025, opening a new chapter in relations between the two countries. She also referred to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statement dated August 8, 2026, about peace between the two countries being "visible and tangible."

The ambassador noted that the peace process, supported by French President Emmanuel Macron, is based on the mutual recognition of territorial integrity, which has been confirmed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

"In this new context, the embassy views with particular concern any initiative that could present a one-sided and conflict-ridden interpretation of the past, or bring narratives back into Paris's public space that do not align with the spirit of the peace process initiated between the two states. We are concerned that while the authorities of the Republic of Armenia have openly declared at the highest level their readiness to pursue the peace agenda and normalize relations with Azerbaijan, the initiative under consideration seems to stem from organizations representing the Armenian diaspora in France," the appeal stated.

Abdullayeva also noted that holding the "exhibition" runs counter to the peace agenda.

"As for the 'Armenian prisoners detained by Azerbaijan,' they have been charged with serious crimes: crimes against humanity, war crimes, terrorism, as well as attempting to seize power by force. Among them is Ruben Vardanyan, who was included in Ukraine's 'Mirotvorets' sanctions list for financing the war against Ukraine. Given that France strongly supports Ukraine, demanding the release of individuals with such a profile seems contradictory to us," she wrote.

She added that the individuals being tried by the Baku Military Court, including former representatives of the unrecognized regime in Karabakh, have been accused of a number of crimes, including crimes against peace and humanity.

The diplomat called on the Paris City Hall to reconsider its decision regarding the exhibition and to cancel it.