Eduard Limonov, a Russian writer, blacklisted in Azerbaijan

A photo from Eduard Limonov’s blog on livejournal

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has placed Eduard Limonov, a scandalous Russian writer and politician, on the ‘undesirable persons’ black list – Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Hikmet Gajiyev, told Interfax-Azerbaijan news agency.

“Limonov’s issue has been considered. The reports that he illegally visited the occupied territories of Azerbaijan have been confirmed. He was put on the persona non grata list in Azerbaijan. He can find his name in the updated list,” said Gajiyev.

Eduard Limonov visited Nagorno-Karabakh in early June 2017, without notifying Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. Following the visit, he published a series of articles entitled ‘The Karabakh Notes’ on the Russian ‘Svobodnaya Pressa’ (Free Press) website, where, among others, he made rather inflammatory statements against Azerbaijan.

“Russia is a shy country in general. Why don’t we just shout to Azerbaijan: ‘Get out of here, we will grant this land to Karabakh – it’s their land, isn’t it!? But instead we just keep silent,” reads Limonov’s article.

According to the Russian politician, recognition of Karabakh’s independence will allow Russia ‘to live happily ever after and directly travel to Iran’.