The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan has issued a statement in protest of the attack on the Cultural Center of the Azerbaijani Embassy by a group of Armenians in Paris, France.

The Ombudsman's Office told APA that the statement reads:

"According to a number of media reports, a group of Armenians attacked the Cultural Center of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Paris, France, and tried to sabotage the screening of the film" The Road to Karabakh "in Paris.

They chanted provocative slogans about the city of Shusha in the Republic of Azerbaijan, including the Karabakh region, and attacked civilians and demonstrated violence.

Vice-president of the French-Azerbaijani Dialogue Association Ayten Muradova and other participants were injured in the attack.

Police arrived at the scene and prevented the provocation.

We would like to note with regret that in many parts of the world, Azerbaijanis who try to convey the culture and history of Azerbaijan to the world community using freedom of speech, opinion and expression are repeatedly attacked on the basis of national, ethnic and hatred.

These events, accompanied by gross violations of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other international documents, are a clear example of Armenia's policy of hatred, hostility and intolerance.

Such provocative actions, which form the basis of Armenia's state policy and incite discrimination and hatred against Azerbaijanis, are evidence of the country's leadership's clear belief in "ethnic incompatibility" between Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

"As the Ombudsman, we strongly condemn Armenia's hate crimes against Azerbaijan, as well as members of the Azerbaijani community abroad, and call on the Armenian side to refrain from attempts to obstruct the peace talks, to fulfill its obligations and to respect human rights and freedoms."

The statement was addressed to the UN Secretary-General, the UN Security Council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN Human Rights Council, UNICEF, UNESCO, Europe. To the leaders of the Union, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the International and European Ombudsman Institutions, the Association of Asian Ombudsmen, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Association of Ombudsmen, the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the European Network of Ombudsmen, the International Peace Bureau sent to ombudsmen and national human rights institutions of different countries, embassies of the Republic of Azerbaijan abroad and foreign countries in our republic, Azerbaijani diaspora organizations.