PACE decided not to hold meetings in Azerbaijan for two years after authorities denied visa to Vice President Rene Rouquet.

“Following the Azerbaijani authorities' last-minute decision to withdraw a visa already granted to a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), René Rouquet ), effectively preventing him from attending the meetings of the PACE Bureau and Standing Committee in Baku on 22 and 23 May, the Bureau of PACE decided today in Baku that no more Assembly committee meetings will be held in Azerbaijan for two years, as of 1 June 2014. This decision will not apply in the case of missions to observe elections,” PACE said in a statement.

When taking its decision, the Bureau held that there had been a violation of the General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Council of Europe, and its Paris Protocol, which enshrine the dual principle of the non-liability of parliamentarians and their inviolability, as well as that of the free movement of members of the Parliamentary Assembly.

However, the measure decided on today could be lifted by the Bureau if the Azerbaijani authorities guarantee freedom of movement of Assembly members in Azerbaijan when travelling on Assembly business.

Azerbaijan refused to issue entry visa to PACE Vice President Rene Rouquet as he had visited Karabakh “without permission of Azerbaijan” and held meetings with NKR authorities.