Rachida Dati, France’s Culture Minister and declared candidate for Mayor of Paris, long criticized for her corrupt and close ties to Azerbaijan, has filed a politically motivated disciplinary complaint seeking to have French-Armenian lawyer and pro-Armenian activist François Devedjian disbarred. The move comes after Devedjian publicly exposed her connections to Baku and its authoritarian Aliyev regime, reminding the public of her ongoing corruption and influence peddling case — for which she is set to stand trial in 2026 — and making factual statements that highlighted her longstanding political proximity to Azerbaijan’s ruling elite. This was reported by French-Armenian journalist Liana Margaryan.
The case has ignited political controversy and outrage within France’s Armenian community, where many see it as a direct attempt to silence a prominent Armenian voice who has consistently exposed pro-Azerbaijani influence in French politics.
The complaint, filed before Pierre Hoffman, President of the Paris Bar Association — the governing body for lawyers in the French capital — accuses Devedjian, the son of the late statesman and staunch Armenian Cause defender Patrick Devedjian, of “serious and repeated breaches of the essential principles” of professional conduct. It cites alleged violations of Article 3 of the July 12, 2005 Decree, which defines a lawyer’s oath: dignity, conscience, independence, integrity, humanity, honor, loyalty, selflessness, fraternity, sensitivity, moderation, and courtesy.
Observers note that the complaint appears to have been triggered by Devedjian’s repeated public criticism of Dati’s relationship with Azerbaijan and his reminders of her referral to court for corruption and influence peddling in the Renault–Nissan case — one of France’s most high-profile political corruption investigations.
François Devedjian’s Response: “France Is Not Azerbaijan — and Citizens, Including Lawyers, Still Have the Right to Speak Out”
In response, François Devedjian issued a statement on November 5 condemning the politically motivated attempt to silence him.
“Rachida Dati has just filed a complaint against me before Pierre Hoffman, President of the Paris Bar Association, for ‘serious and repeated breaches of the essential principles’ of the legal profession. These principles, defined in Article 3 of the Decree of July 12, 2005, are those of the lawyer’s oath — dignity, conscience, independence, integrity, and humanity — as well as honor, loyalty, selflessness, fraternity, sensitivity, moderation, and courtesy. The constant reminder of her referral to the criminal court for corruption and influence peddling therefore seems to seriously irritate Ms Dati. Yet it is an objective fact that in no way infringes upon the presumption of innocence from which she, like everyone else, benefits. Beyond that, like her ‘good friend’ Ilham Aliyev, Ms Dati clearly cannot stand those who oppose her and seeks to silence them. Alas, France is not Azerbaijan, and its citizens — including lawyers — still have the right to speak out. As André Gide once said: ‘The accusation has the nerve to come from those who, precisely, have not the slightest legitimacy.’ I could not say it better. #ParisWithoutDati”
Devedjian maintains that his statements are based on documented facts and do not challenge Dati’s presumption of innocence. He argues that the complaint is meant to intimidate and silence criticism rather than address any genuine professional misconduct.
Solidarity from France’s Armenian Community
Devedjian’s remarks immediately drew strong backing from the Armenian community. Franck Papazian, co-President of the CCAF (Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France), replied directly to Devedjian’s statement with a message of solidarity: “My dear François Devedjian, you have a clear conscience and all our support!”
Papazian’s message echoed the broader sentiment within France’s Armenian circles — that Devedjian’s stance represents both civic courage and the defense of truth against intimidation.
Political Background: Corruption Cases, Career, and Ties to Baku
Rachida Dati, appointed Minister of Culture in January 2024, is also a declared candidate for Mayor of Paris in 2026, according to reports by Le Monde and RFI.
She first rose to national prominence in the late 2000s as Minister of Justice under President Nicolas Sarkozy, later serving as mayor of Paris’s 7th arrondissement — an upscale district that helped cement her reputation as a combative and ambitious political figure known for her sharp instincts and forceful style.
Her career, however, has also been marked by controversy. She faces ongoing legal proceedings for alleged involvement in concealed consulting payments linked to the Renault–Nissan corporate scandal, which prosecutors allege may constitute corruption and influence trafficking.
Her political network and reported ties to Azerbaijan have drawn growing scrutiny, particularly as she now targets figures like François Devedjian — whose late father, Patrick Devedjian, was a prominent French-Armenian politician and staunch defender of the Armenian Cause.
François Devedjian has been outspoken in highlighting the ethnic cleansing and mass displacement of Armenians in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), especially following Azerbaijan’s 2023 campaign that forced the depopulation of the region. He has consistently urged France to uphold its moral responsibility toward truth and justice. His activism, often expressed through social media, calls out French officials perceived as enabling or overlooking Azerbaijan’s aggression.
A Pattern of Intimidation and Legal Retaliation
Several Armenian observers and civic organizations have noted that Rachida Dati is no stranger to “SLAPP”-style lawsuits — legal actions designed to intimidate critics and suppress public debate. This pattern, they argue, reveals a troubling tendency to use the justice system as a political weapon. Adding to the controversy, her lawyer, Maître Olivier Pardo, is also known for representing the interests of Azerbaijan and Maxime Gauin, a notorious denier of the Armenian Genocide. These associations have further deepened concerns among French-Armenian advocates, who see Dati’s actions as aligned with a broader pro-Azerbaijani agenda hostile to voices defending Armenia and Artsakh.
Democracy, Free Speech, and France’s Moral Test
Observers view Dati’s actions as emblematic of a deeper problem within the French political establishment: a growing intolerance toward those who challenge power or expose uncomfortable truths. Her complaint against Devedjian, they argue, is part of a pattern of intimidation aimed at silencing Armenian voices and their allies.
Yet in France, freedom of expression — including for lawyers, journalists, and civic activists — remains protected by law and central to democratic life. Suppressing factual commentary on judicial proceedings, especially those involving a sitting minister, undermines transparency and contradicts the very principles the Republic claims to uphold.
The attempt to sanction François Devedjian for publicly recalling objective judicial facts raises serious concerns about political accountability and the state of free speech in France.
As Devedjian himself remarked, “France is not Azerbaijan.”
His words now echo far beyond this controversy — a reminder that in a democracy, speaking truth remains not only a right but a moral obligation.
