The Baku Initiative Group strongly condemned the initiative of the Assembly of Corsica

The Baku Initiative Group strongly condemns the adoption by the Assembly of Corsica of an initiative concerning the so-called "Republic of Artsakh" and citizens of Armenia who are subject to criminal prosecution in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

This is stated in a statement by the Baku Initiative Group.

"This constitutes a one-sided, provocative and politically motivated initiative that reproduces geopolitical narratives promoted by official Paris, while ignoring the fundamental principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference. The actions of those who supported this resolution cannot be regarded as an independent expression of the political will of the Corsican people. Acting as conduits of France's foreign policy agenda, they chose to act as political instruments — effectively as puppets of Paris — rather than as representatives entrusted with defending the national interests, language, culture and identity of Corsica. The hypocrisy of this position is particularly striking. The same political establishment that loudly discourses on self-determination thousands of kilometers away is unwilling to ensure elementary linguistic and political rights of the Corsican people on Corsica itself," the statement says.

As noted, under Article 2 of the Constitution of France, French remains the sole language of the Republic.

"The French judicial authorities annulled provisions that would recognize Corsican and French as languages of debate in the Assembly of Corsica and as working languages of the executive body of Corsica. In June 2025, the Council of State of France refused to take up an appeal by the Corsican authorities against these decisions. Moreover, although France signed the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 1999, it has still not ratified it. The Council of Europe explicitly classifies the Corsican language among the historic regional languages covered by the Charter.

Before adopting statements concerning the South Caucasus, these elected representatives should answer several questions:

- Why do they continue to submit to a state that denies the Corsican language equal institutional status?

- Why do they not show the same determination in countering the centralizing and deliberate assimilation policy imposed by Paris?

- Why do they resort abroad to the rhetoric of decolonization while at the same time evading recognition of the enduring consequences of French domination for Corsican identity, education, language and political decision-making?" the statement says.

The Baku Initiative Group draws a clear distinction between the Corsican people and those who serve the interests of the government of France and have chosen political submission to Paris over the defense of Corsica's national interests.

"The Corsican people deserve representatives who defend the Corsican language, preserve Corsican culture and consistently uphold the right of the Corsican people to independently determine their political future, rather than representatives serving as convenient instruments of French foreign policy.

The Baku Initiative Group calls on the Assembly of Corsica to focus its attention on the unresolved issues concerning the rights of the Corsican people.

It should demand from France:

- full institutional recognition of the Corsican language;

- guarantees of its unimpeded use in education, public administration and public life;

- ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages;

- protection of Corsica's national identity and culture;

- as well as genuine respect for the political will of the Corsican people and their right to self-determination," the statement notes.

The Baku Initiative Group calls on the Assembly of Corsica to preserve its political and institutional independence and to resist its transformation into an instrument for advancing the national agenda of the French state.

"As the representative body of the Corsican people, the Assembly must act in defense of their linguistic, cultural and political rights, and not allow itself to be used to legitimize policies that undermine Corsican identity and aspirations," the Baku Initiative Group stated.