Jul. 25 2024
Source Page: Naming children and change of name lettersFound: Consular Services British Embassy 45a Khagani Street Baku, AZ1010 Azerbaijan Tel: +994 (0) 12 4377878
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Azerbaijan regarding the protection of Armenian heritage in Nagorno–Karabakh following the recent destruction of the St John the Baptist Church and the Ghazanchetsots cemetery in Shusha, and the nearby village of Karin Tak/Dashalti.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We are clear that the preservation of religious and cultural sites in the region is an important issue and we take seriously reports of the destruction of churches or other sites of religious significance. We are aware of allegations from both Armenia and Azerbaijan that cultural and religious sites have been deliberately damaged over the course of the conflict. British Embassy in Baku have raised the topic of religious and cultural destruction and the need to protect such sites with the Azerbaijani government consistently and at the most senior levels.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his Azerbaijani counterpart on the detention of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu; and if he will take steps to secure his immediate release on humanitarian grounds.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu's arrest in July 2023, the UK has consistently advocated for the right to a fair legal process and appropriate medical access, including permission for temporary leave from Azerbaijan to receive specialist medical care abroad, if required. The UK has consistently called on the Azerbaijani Government to protect the human rights and freedoms of all its citizens, and we will continue to work to ensure Dr Ibadoghlu's rights are upheld.
Asked by: Uma Kumaran (Labour - Stratford and Bow)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to tackle climate change.
Answered by Ed Miliband - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
This Government believes that we can only ensure climate security for further generations in the Uk if we lead globally.
And that was the message of the Prime Minister at the United Nations General assembly with our:
And next month I will be attending the cop29 talks in Azerbaijan to stand up for Britain's interests.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) human rights conditions and (b) respect for international law in the South Caucasus.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Long-term human rights concerns persist across the whole South Caucasus region. The UK Government regularly raises human rights obligations and commitments with the Governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as discussing such matters with international counterparts. For example, I [Minister Doughty] spoke to Georgian Foreign Minister Darchiashvili on 9 October. I shared with him my deep concerns about the negative implications of Georgia's recent laws on Transparency and Foreign Influence and on Family Values and highlighted our concerns regarding the pressures being applied to civil society which undermine the Georgian people's ambition for a modern, inclusive and Euro-Atlantic future.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has taken recent steps to secure the release of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu from detention in Azerbaijan.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu's arrest in July 2023, the UK has consistently advocated for appropriate medical access and treatment, and the right to a fair legal process. Following his arrest, the UK released a joint statement with the US, France and Germany calling for the Azerbaijani government to protect the freedoms and human rights of its citizens, including Dr Ibadoghlu: https://twitter.com/ukinazerbaijan/status/1684428817333383168?s=20 .
The UK also raised these concerns during Azerbaijan's Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in November 2023. The UK has consistently called on the Azerbaijani Government to protect the freedoms and human rights of all of its citizens, and we will continue to work to ensure Dr Ibadoghlu's rights are upheld.
Found: The debate will be opened by Carol Monaghan MP. 2 Background In September 2023 Azerbaijan launched
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the causes of the reported 2,000 per cent increase in UK car exports to Azerbaijan since they imposed sanctions prohibiting such car sales on Russia; and what steps they will take if it is found that the 2,000 per cent increase is partly caused by attempts to evade sanctions imposed on Russia.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade has spoken with industry stakeholders, who have confirmed the sector's commitment to compliance with all trade and economic sanctions, including those on Russia. There are currently no sanctions on UK luxury car exports for use in Azerbaijan. HMRC investigates credible allegations of trade sanctions offences and has a range of options for tackling breaches, including referral for criminal prosecution.
We continue to work to prevent Russia's efforts to circumvent sanctions and recently announced the creation of the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation to improve the implementation and enforcement of trade sanctions, complementing HMRC's existing powers.