Azerbaijan warns it may leave the Council of Europe

Azerbaijan is considering leaving the Council of Europe, accusing the continent's leading human rights body of unfair treatment.

President Ilham Aliyev said his government was evaluating a full withdrawal after the organisation suspended the voting rights of Azerbaijani lawmakers in 2024.

The assembly suspended the delegation over human rights concerns after Azerbaijani forces recaptured the Karabakh region.

Mr Aliyev said a planned departure was paused to give talks a chance, but claimed European officials had since made unacceptable demands.

He warned that Azerbaijan would only remain in the 46-nation body if its voting rights were fully restored.