Germany criticizes Baku for entry bans ahead of UN climate conference

Germany on Saturday criticized Azerbaijan for refusing to allow lawmakers to enter the country ahead of the UN climate conference due to be held in Baku in November.

Azerbaijan is hosting the next UN Climate Change Conference from November 11-22, but Baku has imposed entry bans on 76 lawmakers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe over their criticisms of human rights violations in the country.

Four members of the German parliament are among those denied entry: Frank Schwabe, Heike Engelhardt, Andrej Hunko and Max Lucks, according to the Funke media group newspapers.

Baku's move is "incompatible with Azerbaijan's obligations in the Council of Europe," a German Foreign Office spokeswoman said.

The Council of Europe is an international organization that aims to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law on the continent.

Its 46 members include all 27 EU countries, but also countries such as the United Kingdom, Turkey and the Caucasus republics of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia.

Germany and the 14 other states affected by the decision issued a statement condemning Azerbaijan's move in a meeting of the Committee of Ministers in Strasbourg.