Azerbaijan: Baku orders expulsion of two French diplomats as of Dec. 26

Azerbaijan has declared two French diplomats to be persona non grata and ordered their expulsion within 48 hours as of Dec. 26. Authorities in Baku provided no details on the reason for the expulsion except to indicate that it was due to the diplomats in question being engaged in activities contrary to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Some disruptions to consular services at the French Embassy in Baku are possible. French authorities in Paris may take retaliatory diplomatic actions over the short term, possibly reducing available consular services in that country; however, core services will likely be maintained while diplomatic missions remain open.