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Recently, a number of Turkish and Azerbaijani activists in Strasbourg took the initiative to hold a rally in front of the PACE "as a sign of protest against the passive and formal criticism of the human rights situation in Armenia," writes Einulla Fatullayev, in an article published in "Haqqin.az."

According to the author, it was a good initiative and Azerbaijan will not have such an opportunity again, at least in the near future. "What was supposed Azerbaijan to undertake in this regard? It was to organize a powerful propaganda speech both in PACE and the Council of Europe, that is to say it was a very convenient chance to make a fuss about battered double standards of Strasbourg," he writes and notes that Armenia is to lead the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in May.

On Monday, April 22 the activists held a rally in front of the PACE building, on the eve of the debate on the situation in Armenia.
"And what do you think? Only the representatives of the Turkish community of Strasbourg and the French lyceum students were present at the meeting. They were curious to know what happened in Armenia's at the presidential election, and why the candidate for president was shot in post-Soviet country. Not a single Azerbaijani was present! Can you imagine that? It’s unbelievable, but a fact!" Fatullaev writes.

The author notes that there are many Azerbaijanis in Strasbourg. More than 70 students in Strasbourg University get higher education, and they were informed about the upcoming rally in front of the PACE building. "None cared a hang! None of them came; by the way there are children of a lot of Azerbaijani officials among them," the article said.

The article said that the state budget of Azerbaijan annually released great amount of subsidies for the formation of the Diaspora in the leading countries of the European Union, but Azerbaijan has no Diaspora even in the European capital of Strasbourg. As it turned out, in Strasbourg in 2012 Azerbaijani national-cultural center was closed because of non-payment of rent.
"As Rustam Azeri, the only Azerbaijani, who had come to this action at my personal request from Berlin, told me, an identical situation existed in Germany. The Embassy was unable to gather in one room even 20 Azerbaijanis living in Berlin. There are no Diaspora structures in other European capital, in Brussels, as well! Thus what the State Committee for Diaspora is busy with? And why do the country and its budget need this structure, if its activities contain Nazim Ibragimov, the head of that committee, and its elite lionesses, having tours around Europe festivals this committee businessman and his constant retinue - a group of socialite!" the article says.
The author also notes the poor performance of “ASAİF”, an organization responsible for coordination of the activities of Azerbaijani students abroad. "There is a cardboard sign in Strasbourg office of this coordination center, where tens of millions were spent. It turned out that in addition to ASAİF, another student organization in Strasbourg operates which was founded by the former ambassador of Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe Arif Mammadov. A rather big amount of oil money has been spent on this organization. There is no efficiency there. Imagine, there are two student organizations, covering 70 people, and no co-ordination and organization. The result is lamentable," the publication reads.

According to the author, he together with Rustam Azeri was the only two Azerbaijanis who took part in the rally in front of the PACE in protest "against the occupational policy of Armenia and human rights violations."

"All the rest, that is, 68 demonstrators were Turks who sacrificed their working day - someone had left his counter, someone the newspaper’s editorial and rushed to the rally to raise Azerbaijan’s flag. Meanwhile, Nazim Ibragimov and leaders of student organizations report about our victories on European counters... I was ashamed to look into the eyes of the Turks. Each of them asked me where were the Azerbaijanis? And I want to ask you too- where are the Azerbaijanis?" Fatullaev sums up.