On October 22, during discussions in the European Parliament, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement rejecting what it termed an "unacceptable, groundless, and completely biased" statement made by European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicholas Schmidt. 

The ministry criticized the statement, reportedly prepared by the European External Action Service (EEAS), as being disconnected from reality and an unsuccessful attempt to interfere in Azerbaijan's internal affairs.

The ministry condemned Schmidt's statement that Azerbaijani citizens face criminal prosecution based on their political beliefs or that cases involving  journalists or human rights defenders are politically motivated. The ministry described these claims as “fundamentally incorrect” and argued that “such a harmful approach” by the European Parliament and EEAS has proven ineffective and has only complicated relations between Azerbaijan and Europe.

The ministry highlighted Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan over the past 30 years and noted “systematic human rights issues” in some EU countries, including growing Islamophobia and neo-colonialism. It criticized Commissioner Schmidt for lacking the moral authority to address human rights issues in Azerbaijan, especially given the European Union's indifference to significant events like the “violent protests in New Caledonia.”

Additionally, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry took issue with attempts to link the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) with politically motivated issues unrelated to climate change. The statement urged the European Parliament and the EU to abandon any unilateral positions that undermine peace and stability in the region.