We, the members of the Working Group of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Azerbaijan-Sweden Inter-parliamentary Relations, strongly reject the unfounded, non-objective and biased statement adopted by you as the ‘Sweden-Armenia Friendship Group’ of the Swedish Parliament on March 6 of this year. This statement, filled with false information and baseless accusations, represents a shameful attempt to distort reality, undermine the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan and whitewash the crimes committed by Armenian separatists and war criminals against the Azerbaijani people.

As part of the Armenian Lobby, you have chosen to remain silent regarding the 30-year-long occupation of the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia, the countless war crimes perpetrated against peaceful Azerbaijani civilians, ethnic cleansing, and the widespread and severe violations of human rights. You have intentionally preferred to turn a blind eye on the atrocities committed by Armenian armed forces, the Khojali genocide and the brutal killings of innocent individuals, including children, women, and the elderly, through unbearable torture.

Azerbaijan, having restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with international law, holds a full legal right to prosecute those who have committed grave crimes, including separatism, crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes and terrorist acts against Azerbaijan and its citizens.

False accusations such as ‘the unlawful imprisonment, physical and psychological torture, and political persecution of Armenian prisoners, including political figures and civilians,’ along with other fabricated charges, are nothing more than distortions aimed at diverting attention from the actions of those responsible for the occupation of Azerbaijani lands, razing to ground our cities and villages, the displacement of 750,000 Azerbaijanis within their homeland through ethnic cleansing, and the systematic destruction of Azerbaijan’s national, cultural, and historical heritage.

The hypocrisy of the members of the Sweden-Armenia Friendship Group is further evident in their disregard for the fate of thousands of Azerbaijani civilians who suffered under the oppression of Armenian forces during the 30-year occupation, including 4,000 missing persons, whose destiny remains unknown. Their selective and biased approach, rooted in double standards, demonstrates that the true intent of the group members is to smear Azerbaijan through political manipulation.

The portrayal of war criminals and separatists as innocent ‘political figures and civilians’ in the statement is a flagrant distortion of facts. The individuals referred to are not prisoners of war, but criminals who violated the laws of Azerbaijan, and they must be held accountable and punished for their actions through a fair and transparent trial. Azerbaijan's judicial system operates in full compliance with international standards, whereas any claim to the contrary is nothing but slander. We strongly condemn this disgraceful and biased statement, which is not aimed at promoting peace and justice, but rather at fuelling tensions and inciting hostility. Azerbaijan remains steadfast in its commitment to justice, international law and the regional peace agenda. No foreign threats or interference can deter our determination to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability for crimes committed against our country. It is imperative that all parties accept the reality that Azerbaijan has acted and continues to act within its sovereign rights to protect its people and territory from illegal occupation and separatism.

We, the members of the Working Group of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Azerbaijan-Sweden Inter-parliamentary Relations, call on you to abandon baseless accusations and false allegations intended to undermine justice. The era of impunity for war criminals has ended, and all efforts to justify the actions of those responsible for crimes against our nation and state will be futile.