BAKU
Turkey's president has criticized EU leaders for not attending the inaugural European Games being held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan was speaking in the Azerbaijani capital on Saturday after he went to participate in the games’ opening ceremony held on Friday.
The multi-sport event, which will be held between June 12 and 28, has become the focus for international criticism of the country’s purported human rights record.
Human Rights Watch has sent a letter on Azerbaijan to EU foreign minister, asking "no EU member state will be sending high-level government delegations to the opening ceremonies of the European Games in Baku."
However, President Erdogan said: “I could not see any leaders from the EU, although the name of the event is 'European Games'."
Russian President Vladimir Putin added: "Turkey is here representing the EU."
The two leaders, Erdogan and Putin, held a meeting which was closed to press.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey's Energy Minister, Taner Yildiz, and other senior figures also accompanied Erdogan to Azerbaijan.
Over 6,000 athletes from Europe will compete in 20 sports.
