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The Heydar Aliyev Foundation held a celebration event in Berlin a couple of days ago to mark the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s independence, which German newspaper Die Welt described as part of a “large lobbying program.”

“While other nations mark Independence Day on their land, in Azerbaijan, the schedule of events includes an exhibition and concert in Berlin. German Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy, Markus Löning was so happy because he was not on the guest list,” according to the newspaper.

Radio Liberty Azerbaijan reports that Löning responded to the demonstrative disregard of his personality by the Azerbaijani authorities, saying: “I would not go there, as it is.” He thinks Azerbaijan is a country which “does not so strictly observe human rights.”

“Oppositionists are jailed, journalists and bloggers are under pressure and so far, the international observers have not recognized any election as free,” the Ombudsman said.

Viola von Cramon, Member of German Bundestag from the Green Party, considers that the Azerbaijani authorities with their political activity “deliberately try to distract attention from serious human rights violations.”