Statue of a Dictator (Aliyev Clan)

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Armenpress.am

 

Politics13:40, 11 January 2025

Member of European Parliament rebukes Azerbaijan’s shameless propaganda of explicit lies

Read the article in: العربيةFrançaisՀայերենРусский

BRUSSELS, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Member of the European Parliament Martin Sonneborn has slammed Azerbaijan’s communications strategy as shameless and based on lies.

Touching upon the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s latest aggressive statements against Armenia, the German MEP told Armenpress Brussels correspondent Lilit Gasparyan that Aliyev’s goal is to destroy freedom and democracy.

“Azerbaijan’s communication strategy, as always, is based on shameless propaganda of explicit lies. As the real fascist, Aliyev’s goal is to destroy freedom and democracy. He did it in Artsakh, and now threatens Armenia. He must not succeed,” Martin Sonneborn said.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1209242?fbclid=IwY2xjawHwTNVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbSBWZHt0goj8uLBPmmCmo_sns_5zWcGiLy7S9SammlldpXGBw6ehcRXGA_aem_qOw-yQpyQzfOgn9NDN8Mjw

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OilPrice.com

Jan 12 2025

 

 

Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal Stumbles Once Again

By Eurasianet - Jan 12, 2025, 12:00 PM CST

• Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's recent verbal attack on Armenia has raised doubts about the future of the peace process between the two countries.
• Aliyev's aggressive rhetoric coincides with strained relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, and Armenia's growing ties with the West.
• Despite Aliyev's provocations, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reaffirmed his commitment to peace and called for dialogue to address negative perceptions.

Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev’s surprise rhetorical attack on Armenia is raising doubts that a peace deal between Baku and Yerevan can be reached anytime soon.

Both sides in recent months had given indications that the peace process was making progress and a settlement could be close at hand. But then Aliyev, in a January 7 interview with Azerbaijani journalists, scrambled expectations, launching a verbal broadside against Armenia and its leaders, characterizing the country as a “fascist state.” In all, Aliyev used the term fascist or fascism in connection with Armenia over 10 times during the interview.

“Fascism must be eradicated. It will either be eradicated by Armenia’s leadership or by us. There is no other way,” he stated.

Aliyev’s belligerent comments come at a sensitive time for Azerbaijan. Bilateral relations between Baku and its strongest ally in the region, Russia, have nosedived in recent weeks following the accidental shootdown by Russian air defenses of a civilian Azerbaijani airliner. Concurrently, Armenia of late has taken significant steps to improve its relations with the European Union and United States, bolstering the country’s security position via arms sales and joint exercises.

Armenian officials have been on the strategic defensive since Baku inflicted a decisive defeat on the Armenian military in late 2023 to regain full control of the Nagorno-Karabakh territory. Since then, the two sides have engaged in stop-and-go negotiations on a peace treaty. Under the present circumstances, Aliyev’s January 7 remarks may reflect a sense of concern that Baku’s strategic advantage in its dealings with Armenia is eroding or could start to erode soon. 

A hint of concern could be seen in Aliyev’s criticism of Western arms sales to Armenia. “We see that both Armenia itself and its new patrons do not share this goal [peace],” he said. “They are driven by ideas of revenge, and Armenia has become a source of threat to the region.”

During his prolonged attack on Armenia, Aliyev renewed a call for the opening of the so-called Zangezur corridor, a proposed land bridge across Armenian territory connecting Azerbaijan proper to its Nakhchivan exclave over which Baku would enjoy extraterritorial rights. 

Aliyev also blasted perceived enemies in the West, singling out French President Emmanuel Macron and American billionaire philanthropist George Soros, long viewed as the chief architect of so-called “color” revolutions across Eurasia. “The Soros era has ended in America,” Aliyev stated, referring to the pending return to the presidency by Donald Trump. “The Biden administration, in fact, was largely governed by the Soros method of governance.” 

Aliyev spent much of 2024 feuding with US and European leaders. In a certain manner, Aliyev’s aggressive comments during the interview can be seen as a plea for improved relations with the West, especially considering the rapid deterioration of relations with Russia. “Last year was full of disappointments,” Aliyev noted. “The European Union unequivocally took Armenia’s side in the normalization process.”

The Azerbaijani leader made a point of noting the EU is a big consumer of Baku’s natural gas. EU leaders “should approach the situation with sobriety and recognize Azerbaijan as a reliable partner – one that has never acted against Europe or any European country. Azerbaijan has only responded in kind and will continue to do so: good for good and evil for evil, so to speak,” Aliyev said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan responded to Aliyev’s provocative interview in measured tones, reaffirming his government’s commitment to a peaceful settlement of bilateral differences. “We will remain committed to the strategy of peace and consistently continue the implementation of the peace agenda,” Pashinyan stated. He also called for broad-based public dialogue to address derogatory stereotypes and perceptions that prevail in both states concerning citizens of the other. “The agenda of peace is about discussing, addressing these perceptions,” he noted.

In addition, the Armenian Foreign Ministry defended the country’s right to self-defense, with spokesperson Ani Badalyan stating, “Armenia acquires weapons and equipment solely to exercise its right to self-defense and to protect its citizens.” She reiterated that Armenia harbors no aggressive intentions toward its neighbors.  Azerbaijan’s defense budget in 2025 is projected to be more than double that of Armenia’s.

 

By Eurasianet.org

https://oilprice.com/Geopolitics/International/Armenia-Azerbaijan-Peace-Deal-Stumbles-Once-Again.html

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Armenpress.am

 

Politics09:47, 14 January 2025

EU reiterates importance of avoiding harsh rhetoric and threats to use force in Armenia-Azerbaijan talks

Read the article in: العربيةFrançaisՀայերենქართულიРусский简体中文

The EU reiterates the importance of Armenia and Azerbaijan negotiating on all outstanding matters in good faith, while avoiding harsh rhetoric and threats to use force, the lead spokesperson of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Anitta Hipper told Armenpress Brussels correspondent.

In an interview, Hipper said that the EU has been encouraging the sides to work on mutually acceptable solutions towards a stable and peaceful future for all populations in the region.

The spokesperson reiterated EU’s readiness to support the sides to achieve sustainable peace.

• President Ilham Aliyev's recent statements have not only threatened the EU monitoring mission along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border but also challenge the broader principles and security of the European Union. How does the EU plan to respond to such provocations, and what measures will be taken to ensure regional stability and uphold the EU's fundamental values?

The EU has consistently been calling on the sides to refrain from engaging in steps that could undermine the peace process. In particular, we have been raising the importance of avoiding harsh rhetoric and have been encouraging the sides to work on mutually acceptable solutions towards a stable and peaceful future for all populations in the region.

The EU continues its strong engagement with both sides, including its consultations on the normalisation process and last year's positive developments on their bilateral track. We very much encourage the sides to continue their exchanges and look for mutually acceptable solutions that would address their respective concerns. This message was most recently passed this week by EU Special Representative Grono during her visits to Baku and Yerevan, where she met with both leaderships. It was also reiterated by European Council President Costa in his telephone conversation with President Aliyev on Thursday, 09 January.

• Azerbaijan's continued aggression against Armenia, coupled with the displacement of the indigenous population of Nagorno-Karabakh, raises serious human rights and territorial integrity concerns. What practical actions is the EU prepared to implement to exert pressure on Azerbaijan and address these violations?

The EU has been supporting both sides in the normalisation process over the past few years, including on issues relating to displaced populations. We reiterate our call on both sides to negotiate on all outstanding matters in good faith and will remain in dialogue on these matters with both parties.

• Aliyev's remarks undermine the EU's credibility as a mediator in the South Caucasus and threaten the path of democracy chosen by Armenia. How does the EU intend to preserve its role as a fair and effective mediator, and will there be tangible consequences for Azerbaijan's actions and rhetoric?

The EU reiterates the importance of both sides negotiating on all outstanding matters in good faith, while avoiding harsh rhetoric and threats to use force.

We welcome all efforts towards achieving sustainable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In addition to other international efforts, what is known as the "Brussels process" allowed the leaders of both sides to intensively engage in 2021-2023 on core issues. This provided a structured framework and the space needed to advance the normalisation process, which was appreciated by both sides.

The EU very much welcomes the progress achieved subsequently on the bilateral track and hopes 2025 will bring more positive outcomes, for the benefit of all populations in the region. The EU remains ready to provide additional support to the two sides.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1209395?fbclid=IwY2xjawH0PiBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHUEC8Tlz-Zt8nK-mfOwdHVAb3cLntp3H_vDndpCLwrWs0sS8x0qvUNKJ5g_aem_iFrDSYMuBpeFBn_NJ8CODw

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JAM News

Jan 15 2025

 

 

Opinion from Baku: 'All Azerbaijan needs to do is stay out of it and wait'

• JAMnews

• Baku

On 14 January, a strategic partnership agreement between Armenia and the United States was signed in Washington. The agreement outlines plans to modernize Armenia’s defense system and provide tools to safeguard its sovereignty.

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• Is Iran backing down on ‘Zangezur Corridor’? View from Baku
• Opinion from Baku: What could Russia-Iran’s closer ties mean for South Caucasus? 
• Opinion: ‘Ivanishvili adopts Belarusian tactics to control protests’

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According to Natig Jafarli, chairman of the Azerbaijani opposition party Republican Alternative (ReAl), the document signed in Washington is not directed against Azerbaijan, and Baku should simply await the consequences of its signing:

“The military-strategic agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkey, the Shusha Declaration, is a strong, stable, and, most importantly, effective security umbrella for our country.

Armenian officials and public opinion leaders made a lot of noise about this agreement, insisting that the document signed in Shusha was specifically aimed against Armenia.”

Azerbaijan and Turkey agree on mutual military assistance

A declaration of alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkey has been signed in the city of Shusha (Armenian Shushi) liberated as a result of the second Karabakh war

 

I have repeatedly, including in interviews broadcast in Armenia, tried to explain that they overestimate their importance. This agreement is not directed against little Armenia. To deal with Armenia, we wouldn’t even need our army—our traffic police would suffice.

The Shusha Declaration was signed to counter ongoing threats to Azerbaijan from the north and south, and to contain Russia and Iran. The Azerbaijan-Turkey strategic alliance is the most significant source of strength and security in the South Caucasus.

There is serious discussion about the strategic partnership agreement signed yesterday between Armenia and the United States. A few points need to be emphasized here:

• The viability of an agreement signed with the Biden administration just before its departure is questionable;
• This agreement is not directed against Azerbaijan, and it is a mistake to view it as such from our side. It is aimed at Russia and Iran. We should simply step back and let Russia and Iran sort out their relations with Armenia. Azerbaijan’s stance is already just and dominant from a legal perspective, as we strive for peace and security in the South Caucasus;
• Armenia hosts Russian military bases, and its political and economic dependence on Russia is at an alarming level. If the Armenia-US agreement angers Russia and Moscow decides to act, our key stance should be complete non-interference—let them handle it themselves.;
• Today, Armenia is one of Russia’s main hubs for circumventing international sanctions. Armenia facilitates the trade of precious stones and gold for Russia and enables the purchase of semiconductors and electronic equipment on international markets. Do the US and the West not see this? Of course they do, but it benefits everyone involved. Will this mechanism be dismantled? I don’t think so. Armenia’s attempt to sit on two chairs will irritate both sides—our role is to wait and observe.

The only country that can guarantee Armenia a safe and prosperous life in the South Caucasus is Turkey. Sooner or later, this reality will become clear to everyone.

Azerbaijan is preparing to sign a strategic partnership agreement with the Trump administration. The announcement has already been made, and it is the right decision.

I maintain my position that the documents on normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and between Turkey and Armenia, will be signed with Trump’s involvement. I have been saying this for more than six months, even when Trump’s chances of becoming president seemed lower than those of other candidates.

This is because there is already a document that is 90% agreed upon, and considering Armenia’s readiness to dissolve the outdated OSCE Minsk Group, it is 95% complete. The first agreements signed to support Trump’s slogan, “I will bring peace to the world,” will be those normalizing relations in our region.

This will further accelerate the process of expelling Russia from the South Caucasus through the joint efforts of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Therefore, we should approach the Armenia-US agreement signed yesterday with restraint and not claim it is directed against Azerbaijan. We simply need to wait for Russia and Iran’s reactions to this cooperation—without any interference on our part.

https://jam-news.net/opinion-from-baku-all-azerbaijan-needs-to-do-is-stay-out-of-it-and-wait/

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Azerbaijan22:06, 16 January 2025

Aliyev’s show trials echo Stalin’s tactics in suppressing opposition - Luis Moreno Ocampo

Read the article in: FrançaisՀայերենРусский

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, has addressed the show trials organized by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's regime, comparing them to Stalin's tactics in the 1930s.

In an article published on his official website, Ocampo emphasized that the criminal trials set to begin in Baku on January 17 against former high-ranking officials of Nagorno-Karabakh are already predetermined. 

The article is presented below:

"Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has resurrected one of Joseph Stalin’s most sinister tools: the show trial. Just as Stalin’s purges in the 1930s relied on forced confessions and sham trials to kill his  rivals and strengthen his totalitarian grip on power, Aliyev is using judicial theatre to mask his crimes.

Stalin’s infamous show trials targeted his closest allies—old Bolsheviks, military generals, and secret police operatives. These spectacles culminated in executions, while the media of the time failed to see through the facade. Notably, The New York Times correspondent Harold Denny dismissed the trials as genuine efforts at justice, tragically endorsing Stalin’s propaganda. History cannot afford to repeat such errors. Can we do it better in 2025?

On January 17, Azerbaijan will stage criminal trials against Armenian of Nagorno-Karabakh, including former presidents and civilians, alongside a separate trial for former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan. These proceedings are predetermined; the accused are already convicted in all but name. The charges, as hollow as they are grotesque, serve as a cover-up of the crimes committed by the regime in Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh including the prisoners.

Since December 2022, more than 120,000 Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh were systematically starved under Azerbaijan’s blockade. In September 2023, they were subjected to a brutal military assault, instilling conditions to destroy the ethnic group as such and produce serious mental harm – two material forms of committing genocide under Article 2 (c) and (b) of the Genocide Convention. Azerbaijan’s Parliament has made its intentions clear, advocating for the erasure of Armenian as a nation and claiming its territory as “West Azerbaijan.”

If Aliyev had genocidal intentions, then the Nagorno-Karabakh “ethnic cleansing” should be considered a genocide, if not, it is a crime against humanity of persecution, force-displacement, and deportation.

Hundreds of Azerbaijani dissidents remain imprisoned under Aliyev’s regime, stripped of any prospect of a fair trial. On January 6, 2025, a criminal trial against a French national, Martin Ryan, started in Azerbaijan, exposing the tensions between both countries. Ryan stands accused of espionage—allegedly gathering intelligence on Azerbaijan’s military collaborations with Turkey and Pakistan and recruiting French-speaking Azerbaijanis for French intelligence. Prosecutors claim he also acted as an intermediary, facilitating contact between French intelligence and Azad Mammadli, an Azerbaijani citizen now on trial for high treason. The charges against dissidents or French citizens, dubious at best, could be characterized as a systemic attack against the civilian population, and consequently, as crimes against humanity.

This is not an isolated incident. Independent reports from the European Court of Human Rights, the US State Department, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Freedom House all agree -Azerbaijan lacks an independent judiciary. In a rare instance of judicial independence in 2021, Judge Mehriban Suleymanova ruled against a government-backed entity. Her punishment was swift—she was fired.

The international community must act. These Stalin-era show trials in modern Azerbaijan are not merely a domestic charade but a calculated attempt to distract from Aliyev’s crimes and tighten his grip on power. Every judge’s strike of gavel in Baku’s courts resounds with injustice, and every conviction shames the global community that allows this to continue.

It is time to expose Aliyev’s dictatorship for what it is and shame its allies."

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1209704?fbclid=IwY2xjawH2ro5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZS-RfXghoSymK5tt5NCDyf3gJFqeBsMPMDo1ELlIk9vNknb3BtXhe7gLg_aem_ny59wPhY-PacqIl-U-wGvg

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Armenpress.am

 

Politics11:54, 16 January 2025

‘Stalin is dead but Aliyev is learning from him,’ former ICC chief prosecutor on show trials against Karabakh-Armenians

Read the article in: العربيةEspañolՀայերենРусскийTürkçe简体中文

Fabricated charges against the jailed Nagorno-Karabakh politicians in Azerbaijan are a cover-up of the crimes committed against the Nagorno-Karabakh people, the former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo has said.

“January 17, criminal trials will start in Baku. Azerbaijan's bogus charges are a cover-up of the crimes committed against the Nagorno-Karabakh people, including the prisoners #FreeArmenianHostages,” Ocampo said on X.

 

 

“Stalin is dead but Aliyev is learning from him, using show trials to attack his enemies. That is happening today in Azerbaijan,” Ocampo added in a video.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1209610?fbclid=IwY2xjawH2rqpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdUk1ZO0Pp3ouKzb1oX7o2o_b9SsmllnR956PYC0_aMLaaWL0xWMk_DQHQ_aem_IkOwXaymbmn1s4ZO_vsdEg

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Politics09:00, 17 January 2025

Aliyev’s actions and rhetoric often serve as a precursor to armed conflict, says Spanish legislator

Read the article in: العربيةEspañolFrançaisՀայերենРусский简体中文

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s actions and rhetoric in recent years reveal a pattern characteristic of the Aliyev regime’s autocratic behavior, often serving as a precursor to armed conflict. In my opinion, it is significant that the Prime Minister of Armenia has publicly expressed this concern.

Spanish Member of Parliament Jon Iñarritu expressed this opinion in an interview with Armenpress, speaking about the continuous threats against Armenia from Azerbaijan and the latter's illegitimate territorial claims.

Referring to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's recent interview, where he expressed concern about Azerbaijan’s territorial claims against Armenia, the Spanish MP highlighted the importance of this statement. He noted that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s actions and rhetoric in recent years reveal a pattern characteristic of the Aliyev regime’s autocratic behavior.

“In my opinion, it is significant that the PM of Armenia has publicly expressed this concern. Azerbaijan’s actions and rhetoric in recent years reveal a pattern characteristic of the Aliyev regime’s autocratic behavior, often as a precursor to armed conflict,” he said.

“During the war and the subsequent ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), Azerbaijan received Turkey’s full support and faced only passive indifference from much of the international community.

This lack of accountability has emboldened the Aliyev regime, reinforcing its belief that it can act with impunity—disregarding international law and human rights. Such behavior poses a direct threat not only to Armenia but also to regional stability and the broader international order,” Spanish Member of Parliament Jon Iñarritu said.

Inarritu, also addressing the invented narrative and terminology of the so-called "Western Azerbaijan" propagated by Baku, noted that Azerbaijan is clearly laying the groundwork for further territorial claims against Armenia. He emphasized that such narratives are a common tactic employed by Ilham Aliyev as part of Baku's expansionist policy.

“Azerbaijan’s narrative of the so-called ‘Western Azerbaijan’ is a clear example of historical revisionism, a tactic often employed by the Aliyev autocracy to justify its aggressive policies.

It is important to highlight that the Republic of Armenia represents only a fraction of historical Armenia—a homeland of a millennia-old indigenous people who have faced repeated extermination and displacement over the centuries,” he said.

According to the Spanish parliamentarian, these actions, whether carried out by the Ottoman Turks in the past or by Azerbaijan today, are part of a broader attempt to erase Armenian history and identity in the region.

 “As President Erdogan frequently states, Azerbaijan and Turkey are two states but one nation,” he said, highlighting the close strategic and ideological alignment between the two countries.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1209677?fbclid=IwY2xjawH3-L1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHTH2wW8l41-a1C9gqptrAhB1AvQr6fBMbe_Tj8hcpVUnI4h0m9QslaAdBQ_aem_vg_c_9ltSHoLY5G633VKug

 

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Armenpress.am

 

Politics09:03, 21 January 2025

Risk of renewed escalation remains high as long as Azerbaijan continues its aggressive actions, says Spanish lawmaker

Read the article in: العربيةՀայերենРусский

Spanish legislator Jon Inarritu has said that in recent years the only violent actor in the South Caucasus has been Azerbaijan and the risk of renewed escalation remains high as long as it continues its aggressive actions.

The Spanish MP made the comments in an interview with Armenpress when asked about the likelihood of new escalation and Azerbaijan’s accusations and false narratives regarding Armenia buying armaments from various countries.

“In recent years, the only violent actor in the South Caucasus has been Azerbaijan, which has violated international law and caused instability in the region. The risk of renewed escalation remains high as long as Azerbaijan continues its aggressive actions. The international community must continue to pressure Baku to resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation rather than military aggression. Lasting peace can only be achieved if all parties prioritize constructive engagement over conflict,” Jon Inarritu said.

Touching upon Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that Yerevan is not engaged in an arms race and is buying weapons solely for self-defense, the Spanish MP underscored that as a sovereign state, Armenia has every right to acquire military equipment for its defense, just as any other country does.

“Azerbaijan’s accusation is curious, to say the least. As a sovereign state, Armenia has every right to acquire military equipment for its defense, just as any other country does. However, it is important to highlight that Azerbaijan has been using sophisticated weaponry, including weapons that are controversial or even in violation of international law, to perpetuate ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and to invade sections of Armenia. These weapons have been supplied from a range of countries, including Turkey, Israel, Russia, Germany, and Canada, among others. Moreover, Azerbaijan has increased its military budget and capabilities, clearly geared towards offensive actions. In contrast, Armenia remains focused solely on defending its borders and territorial integrity. The real danger lies not in acquiring military equipment, but in the misuse of such equipment—especially when it is employed outside of legal contexts, as Azerbaijan has been doing,” the Spanish lawmaker said.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1209926?fbclid=IwY2xjawH9UwNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZ1wpoVXy_x4bP2AlvcyCFnFcqCD5ZgpBdzT6QmfqpZJOkqWAgxBk26R7A_aem_DsQkg7iOFaVdeGHw4I6r9w

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Azatutyun.am

 

Armenian Security Chief Concerned About Azeri Threats

Հունվար 23, 2025

• Gayane Saribekian

 

Armenia-Armen Grigorian , secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, March 10, 2023.

 

The secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, Armen Grigorian, expressed concern on Thursday over Azerbaijan’s renewed threats of military action against Yerevan.

"Besides, we see that intensive military exercises are conducted [in Azerbaijan,] and we see intensive [cargo] flights from other countries, which are most likely transporting military equipment to Baku,” Grigorian told reporters.

Azerbaijani President Aliyev threatened earlier this month to put an end to “fascism” in Armenia and to forcibly open a land corridor through Armenia’s strategic Syunik region to Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan exclave. He also reiterated multiple preconditions for signing a peace deal with Armenia, including a change of the Armenian constitution and an end to Yerevan’s arms acquisitions.

Armenian pundits have construed that as a further indication that Azerbaijan is gearing up for a large-scale invasion of Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has likewise said that Baku may be preparing the ground for “unhindered aggression” against his country.

However, Armenia’s recently established Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) played down the risk of such aggression in a report released earlier on Thursday.

“Based on the analysis of various facts, information, and phenomena, as of the time of publication of this report, we do not assess the likelihood of a large-scale military attack by Azerbaijan against Armenia as high,” said the report.

Gegham Manukian, an Armenian opposition parliamentarian, decried this conclusion, saying that the Azerbaijani pro-government media is already portraying it as proof that “Azerbaijan does not pursue a bellicose policy on Armenia.” He called the FIS report an “essay” not based on facts and in-depth analysis.

“Armenia’s Defense Ministry and National Security have intelligence services … None of them were involved in the preparation of this report,” Manukian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

At the same time, the report suggested that Baku will maintain “the risk of local tensions and escalation at the border” to ratchet up pressure on Yerevan. It said that a “smooth” delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border would reduce that risk.

Manukian claimed that the FIS is thus justifying more territorial and other concessions to Baku which Pashinian is ready to make in response to Aliyev’s threats.

Armenian opposition leaders have for years warned that his appeasement policy cannot bring a lasting peace. Pashinian insists that he will stick to his “peace agenda.”

 

 

https://www.azatutyun.am/a/33286299.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawH_8QxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZWFT8PWDU-zw74S35s5s14P4b_QnSXQpKJfWu5DUSRgUYmpxE1GCLZQZw_aem_OB20wPRVXvgilGLPBfl_7g

[Yervant1]

Jan 24 2025

 

 

Azerbaijan Continues to Illegally Hold, Torture Armenian Hostages

by Uzay Bulut

 

• On January 17, Azerbaijan began trials of 16 Armenian captives... in military courtrooms, to which international media and observers have been denied access.

• The next court hearings are slated for January 27, during which court decisions are expected to be announced. As of now, the trials are open only to Azerbaijani state media.

• Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing against the Armenian people of Artsakh has been proceeding for the past four years.... Azeri soldiers posted videos and photos of themselves beheading and mutilating Armenians.

• "A court hearing of my case is scheduled for January 27 at 3:00 PM. I have been informed that I am facing 42 charges, some of which carry sentences up to life imprisonment. However, I have not been granted the opportunity to fully review the official indictment. My lawyer and I were merely allowed to skim through 422 volumes of the case files, all written solely in the Azerbaijani language, which I do not understand.... Moreover, pressure has been exerted on me, my lawyer, and my interpreter to force us to backdate and sign documents, including falsified protocols and records of interrogations that never took place.... Let me reiterate: all protocols bearing my signature are falsifications." — Ruben Vardanyan, former State Minister of Artsakh, January 16, 2025.

• One of the Armenian hostages tortured in an Azeri prison is Vicken Euljekjian... [detained] 10 hours after the ceasefire had gone into effect.... A court sentenced Euljekjian to 20 years imprisonment after a short trial without adequate legal representation.... Liparit Drmeyan, an aide to Armenia's representative to the European Court of Human Rights, said that Euljekjian did not have access to lawyers that were chosen by him.... [His wife said he] has requested a retrial and a lawyer, but the Azeri authorities refuse to meet these requests.

• The Trump administration needs to make Azerbaijan release these hostages. US President Donald Trump needs to sanction Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and other Azeri officials for carrying out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Nagorno-Karabakh that continues to threaten the territorial integrity of Armenia while refusing to release the Armenian POWs and hostages.

Azerbaijan's government authorities refuse to release the Armenian hostages whom they have illegally held and abused since they captured them in 2020 and 2023.

On January 17, Azerbaijan began trials of 16 Armenian captives -- including the former leaders of Artsakh (Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh) -- in military courtrooms, to which international media and observers have been denied access.

In a press release, the Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ) requested that Azerbaijan allow international legal experts to observe the trials. The request remains unanswered. The next court hearings are slated for January 27, during which court decisions are expected to be announced. As of now, the trials are open only to Azerbaijani state media.

Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing against the Armenian people of Artsakh has been proceeding for the past four years. Azerbaijan – with the help of Turkey -- launched an aggressive war against Artsakh that lasted 44 days -- between September 27 and November 9, 2020. The aggressors committed countless crimes and indiscriminately shelled the indigenous lands of Armenians, where around 120,000 Armenians resided in the South Caucasus. Azeri soldiers posted videos and photos of themselves beheading and mutilating Armenians.

The trilateral ceasefire agreement signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on November 9, 2020 was supposed to halt the war. The agreement mandates the exchange of prisoners of war (POWs), hostages and detainees, as well as the repatriation of the remains of deceased individuals. Armenia has honored the agreement, but Azerbaijan has still not.

After the Azeri bombardment of Artsakh in September 2023, Azerbaijan took even more Armenians hostage. As of now, according to official Armenian data, Azerbaijan is holding 23 prisoners of war and political prisoners. Christian Solidarity International (CSI) says that the true figure may be as high as 100, and calls for all Armenian hostages to be released without delay.

Some of the detained individuals include Davit Babayan, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh, Arkady Ghukasyan, former president of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, former president of Artsakh, Davit Ishkhanyan, chairman of the National Assembly of Artsakh, Davit Manukyan, former deputy commander of the Artsakh Armed Forces, Levon Mnatsakanyan, former commander of the Armed Forces, Bako Sahakyan, former president of Artsakh, and Ruben Vardanyan, former State Minister of Artsakh.

Vardanyan, who has been detained by Azerbaijan since September 27, 2023, issued a statement posted on social media by his family on January 16. He is being tried separately from the other 15 Armenians. He said that he had not been given enough time to prepare his defense on 42 charges, including terrorism:

"A court hearing of my case is scheduled for January 17 at 3:00 PM. I have been informed that I am facing 42 charges, some of which carry sentences up to life imprisonment. However, I have not been granted the opportunity to fully review the official indictment. My lawyer and I were merely allowed to skim through 422 volumes of the case files, all written solely in the Azerbaijani language, which I do not understand, within a very short timeframe – from December 9, 2024, to January 8, 2025. I only received the list of charges in Russian on January 8, 2025.

"Moreover pressure has been exerted on me, my lawyer, and my interpreter to force us to backdate and sign documents, include] ng falsified protocols and records of interrogations that never took place.

"I officially declare: I have given no testimony since the day of my arrest, except during the first interrogation, where I only stated my name and surname. Let me reiterate: all protocols bearing my signature are falsifications. These documents do not exist in reality. My lawyer and interpreter were coerced into signing these documents.

"I once again reiterate and state my complete innocence and the innocence of my Armenian compatriots also being held as political prisoners and demand an immediate end to this politically motivated case against us."

The court denied Vardanyan's request to merge his case with those of the others. His trial is set to resume on January 27.

The people of Artsakh democratically elected their representatives through a direct vote. The term "elected representatives of Nagorno Karabakh" is recorded in several documents of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The former leaders of Artsakh are not the only Armenian hostages held by Azerbaijan. Since 2020, Azerbaijan has taken many Armenian civilians and soldiers hostage during and in the aftermath of Azeri military attacks. Azerbaijan tortured and murdered many of them.

One of the Armenian hostages tortured in an Azeri prison is Vicken Euljekjian, a dual citizen of Armenia and Lebanon. Azeri soldiers detained him on November 10, 2020, near the Armenian city of Shushi in Artsakh, currently occupied by Azerbaijan. The detention reportedly took place 10 hours after the ceasefire had gone into effect. Soon after, he was transferred, along with other Armenian hostages, to a prison in Baku, Azerbaijan's capital. A court sentenced Euljekjian to 20 years imprisonment after a short trial without adequate legal representation.

Armenia's government and human rights groups condemned the trial as a travesty of justice. Liparit Drmeyan, an aide to Armenia's representative to the European Court of Human Rights, said that Euljekjian did not have access to lawyers that were chosen by him.

Euljekjian's wife, Linda Euljekjian, told Gatestone Institute that he is suffering from serious physical and mental health problems in prison, and has requested a retrial and a lawyer, but the Azeri authorities refuse to meet these requests.

Luciana Minassian, a lawyer and specialist on international law who monitors the cases of the Armenian hostages in Azerbaijan, told Gatestone:

"Trials that lack transparency and fail to meet the standards of due process transform the judicial system into a tool for political retribution. This not only violates the Geneva Conventions but also damages the credibility of the prosecuting state, inviting international condemnation and setting a dangerous precedent for future conflicts. Releasing POWs immediately is not just a legal obligation—it is a moral imperative. Compliance with the Geneva Conventions preserves the integrity of international law, reinforces mutual respect among warring parties, and ensures that states remain accountable to their commitments.

"However, Azerbaijan continues to ill-treat and even torture the Armenian hostages it illegally holds."

Despite the November 9, 2020 ceasefire agreement, the Azeri aggression or threats against Armenia have never ended. On September 12, 2022, Azerbaijan launched a deadly attack across several regions of Armenia's eastern border, killing more than 200 Armenian soldiers and capturing parts of southern Armenia. During that military offensive, Azeri soldiers slaughtered and mutilated an Armenian female soldier. They then posted on social media images of her abused and tortured body.

In December 2022, Azerbaijan started its starvation siege targeting Artsakh. For nine months, Armenians in Artsakh were blockaded by Azeri forces and deprived of sufficient food, medication and their right to freely travel. And on September 19 and 20, 2023, Azerbaijan bombed Artsakh and forcibly displaced the entire Armenian population – around 120,000 people.

Kathryn Hemmer, a human rights scholar and Genocide Studies Program student fellow at Yale University, wrote of Artsakh:

"The territory, which declared independence in 1991, was home to a predominantly ethnic Armenian population until Azerbaijan launched a 10-month blockade and military assault in 2023. Now, the continued imprisonment of many of Nagorno-Karabakh's leaders has further victimized a population that just experienced what is arguably one of the most overlooked episodes of ethnic cleansing in recent history."

The Trump administration needs to make Azerbaijan release these hostages. US President Donald Trump needs to sanction Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and other Azeri officials for carrying out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Nagorno-Karabakh that continues to threaten the territorial integrity of Armenia while refusing to release the Armenian POWs and hostages.

Uzay Bulut, a Turkish journalist, is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Gatestone Institute.

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21343/azerbaijan-armenian-hostages

[Yervant1]

Jerusalem Post

Jan 26 2025

 

Backing an assault by Azerbaijan on Armenia is not in Israel’s interest - opinion

Azerbaijan has shown its ambitions extend to sovereign territory in Armenia: the seizure of the so-called Zangezur corridor in southern Armenia, in the region of Syunik.

By DAN PERRY, GILEAD SHER

 

Israel’s strategic partnership with Azerbaijan has been central to its foreign policy in the South Caucasus. However, Azerbaijan is seemingly planning more aggression against Armenia, which is not in Israel’s interest. As people who closely follow events in the region, we humbly urge Israel to discourage its ally from making a terrible mistake.

The regime in Baku sells oil to Israel, buys Israeli weapons, and offers a forward base for monitoring and countering Iran. It is not a pretty deal – as the regime of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is currently one of the world’s most dictatorial – but it has been a case of perhaps understandable realpolitik.

For Azerbaijan, this alliance proved invaluable during its conflict with the autonomous Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, where Israeli weapons were allegedly used in operations that resulted in a decisive Azerbaijani victory and the ethnic cleansing of 120,000 Armenians in September 2023.

 

Recently, Azerbaijan has shown its ambitions extend to sovereign territory in Armenia: the seizure of the so-called Zangezur corridor in southern Armenia, in the region of Syunik.

Controlling this corridor would create a land bridge to Azerbaijan’s ally, Turkey, in turn boosting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ambitions, which, along with his flirtations with Russia, are badly out of sync with that country’s obligations as a NATO member.

 

The dangers of plans for an attack have been flagged for weeks by security and policy experts in Europe, and a major sign came earlier this month in an interview with Aliyev.

Using terminology reminiscent of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s before he attacked Ukraine, Aliyev accused Armenia of having a “fascist ideology” for 30 years and being a “threat to the region.” Aliyev argued that “fascism must be destroyed… It will be destroyed either by the Armenian leadership or by us. We have no other choice.”

 

An Azerbaijani attack on Armenia would be an aggression that Israel should not aid or abet.

That would not mean that Israel is abandoning its alliance with Azerbaijan, but rather, it would be advising it to avoid an overreach that could backfire badly.

Such a move against Armenia would not merely be an extension of Aliyev’s territorial consolidation. It would violate the sovereignty of Armenia, a nascent democracy, and fundamentally alter the regional balance in a way that directly benefits Turkey.

 

By linking Turkey with Azerbaijan and Central Asia, this corridor would extend Turkish influence across the region. Considering Turkey may have a huge influence over the new regime in Syria, this Turkish zone would reach all the way from central Asia to the Golan border.

Turkey, under Erdogan, has increasingly acted as a rogue NATO member, pursuing expansionist ambitions under the guise of counterterrorism and stability. Erdogan’s support for Islamist militias in Syria has entrenched Turkey’s influence there, particularly in the northwest. Through these proxies, Ankara displaced Kurdish populations, undermined Kurdish autonomy, and strengthened extremist factions, all while avoiding direct military confrontation.

Erdogan’s neo-Ottoman vision is not limited to Syria. During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Turkey airlifted Syrian mercenaries to fight alongside Azerbaijani forces, a tactic that demonstrates Ankara’s use of Islamist militias as instruments of foreign policy.

 

And that foreign policy is clearly hostile to Israel. Erdogan’s robust support for Hamas and his ambiguous threats toward Israel – he alluded to the possibility of invading – highlight the dangers of empowering Ankara further.

Destabilizing Armenia

ARMENIA, MEANWHILE, is a fledgling democracy attempting to pivot away from Russian dependency and move toward the West. An attempt to seize the Zangezur corridor threatens to destabilize this trajectory, pushing Armenia back into Moscow’s orbit and boosting anti-Western forces within the country – another development that Israel should not necessarily welcome.

The loss of this corridor would also devastate Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, signaling to other authoritarian regimes that aggression against weaker neighbors will go unchecked.

Turkey’s behavior here – and its fence-sitting on the Russia-Ukraine war – underscores its divergence from NATO principles and values. Erdogan’s purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems, defiance of Western sanctions on Moscow, and aggressive actions in the Eastern Mediterranean are just a few examples of Ankara’s undermining of NATO cohesion.

Turkey’s actions also challenge US interests in the region. Erdogan’s escalating rhetoric against Syrian Kurds, who are critical US allies in the fight against ISIS, and his alignment with Azerbaijan further risk destabilizing an already volatile region.

Moreover, Erdogan’s reliance on Islamist militias and his imperialistic vision clash with Western efforts to promote democratic governance and stability in the Middle East and Central Asia. A seizure of the Zangezur corridor would embolden Turkey and create new challenges for NATO, the United States, and regional actors like Israel.

The Zangezur corridor also holds strategic importance for Iranians, providing a critical route to Armenia for trade, travel, and cultural exchange. While cutting Iran off from Armenia may seem advantageous to some, the Islamic Republic of Iran is unlikely to last forever. A more moderate Iranian government in the future will probably seek reintegration into the global community, and access to Armenia could be important.

For the United States and NATO, this is an opportunity to reassert core values and impose consequences on Turkey for its rogue behavior. For US President Donald Trump, it is also a chance to act decisively in a region where president Joe Biden projected weakness.

Just as the US under Biden did little to stop Yemen’s Houthis from disrupting global maritime trade with their attacks on ships headed to Egypt’s Suez Canal, so too has it allowed Aliyev to run riot and Erdogan to attack the US-allied Kurds in Syria. A move toward a peaceful settlement is also in the incoming administration’s interest.

As for Israel, supporting the Zangezur corridor’s seizure in any way would cross a dangerous line. Israel should oppose this move, balancing its strategic alliance with Azerbaijan while taking a principled stand against Turkish overreach. With Trump handling Ankara and Israel engaging Baku, folly might be avoided.

Dan Perry is the former chief editor of the Associated Press in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, the former chairman of the Foreign Press Association in Jerusalem, and the author of two books about Israel. He also works with a pro-democracy NGO in Yerevan. Follow him at danperry.substack.com

Gilead Sher is a former chief of staff of Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and a senior peace negotiator. He is a non-resident fellow in Middle East peace and security at Rice University’s Baker Institute. His recent book Reflections on Conflict Resolution was published in 2022.

 

https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-839201

[Yervant1]

TheCaliforniaCourier.com

 

Azerbaijan Sets Record $5 Billion Military Budget Amid Looming Economic Hurdles

· JANUARY 24, 2025

By Vahram Revazyan

Civilnet

Azerbaijan’s decision to allocate a record $5 billion to military spending in its 2025 budget underscores a risky gamble amid economic uncertainties. This increase comes as the country grapples with declining oil revenues and the deterioration of fiscal buffers in the budget to sustain government spending.

The 2025 budget projects oil prices at $70 per barrel, significantly higher than the conservative benchmarks used in recent years. This assumption leaves little room to absorb shocks, especially given global market forecasts that suggest potential oversupply in the oil market. Should oil prices fall below the anticipated level, Azerbaijan’s budgetary stability will rely even more heavily on its State Oil Fund (SOFAZ), which already faces financial strain. Notably, international forecasts for oil prices 2025 hover around $75 per barrel, indicating that the budget includes almost no buffer. If oil prices dip below $70 per barrel, Azerbaijan may be forced further to increase transfers from SOFAZ to the state budget.

Military Spending at a Record High

In October 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev submitted a state budget proposal to parliament that allocated $4.9 billion to military expenditures—an increase of $1 billion from the finance ministry’s earlier draft. This additional burden is entirely placed on Azerbaijan’s State Oil Fund (SOFAZ), raising its contribution to the state budget from $7.5 billion to $8.5 billion. According to the finance ministry, this increase was ordered by the president, citing the need to respond to “Armenia’s accelerating militarization.”

During parliamentary discussions, Finance Minister Samir Sharifov forecasted a decline in oil and gas revenues due to depleting reserves. He also noted that the military budget increase originated from Aliyev himself, subtly implying concerns about the sustainability of this move. The chairman of Azerbaijan’s Accounts Chamber expressed similar worries, highlighting the unprecedented assumption of $70 per barrel oil prices underlying the budget—a stark increase from the $50 and $60 benchmarks used in previous years. This optimistic projection leaves little buffer for economic shocks if oil prices drop below expectations.

Economic Risks and Oil Dependency

The Azerbaijani government’s reliance on high oil prices to balance its budget underscores the structural vulnerabilities of its economy and heavy dependence on hydrocarbon exports. While oil and gas revenues currently account for nearly half of the state budget, the projected reduction to 40% by 2028 is unlikely to materialize as anticipated. Instead, the expected decrease in oil revenue transfers to the state budget will be offset by the manat’s devaluation, ensuring that oil-related income continues to constitute roughly 50% of budget revenues, albeit at adjusted exchange rates.

Compounding these challenges is the lack of a financial buffer in the 2025 budget. In previous years, conservative oil price assumptions allowed the government to allocate additional funds when market prices exceeded expectations. The 2025 budget, however, narrows this margin, increasing the risk of fiscal instability if oil prices drop below the projected $70 per barrel.

Around 90% of SOFAZ’s oil and gas revenues come from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) oilfield, with an expected production decline. Despite a new platform aimed at stabilizing extraction, output from the ACG field is falling faster than anticipated. Revenues from this field are forecasted at $4.5 billion in 2025, with an additional $0.5 billion in bonus payments, marking the final year of such payments under existing contracts. From 2026 onward, SOFAZ will face an even steeper revenue decline because of an accelerated production decline in ACG.

SOFAZ’s official 2025 budget reflects only a $100 million deficit, which appears to be based on overly optimistic assumptions. Supporting this view is the fact that Azerbaijan’s Accounts Chamber has not released its usual detailed analysis of SOFAZ’s budget assumptions, such as projected oil and gas prices, which have been publicly disclosed in previous years.

Mounting Socio-Economic Challenges

The combination of declining oil revenues, increasing reliance on SOFAZ, and a growing government expenditure presents a precarious economic situation for Azerbaijan. The government’s strategy to increase military spending amid these challenges echoes the mismanagement that led to economic turmoil during the 2014-2016 crisis, followed by military aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in April 2016. With deteriorating financial buffers, the country risks significant socio-economic shocks in the coming years.

Beyond economic challenges, several geopolitical factors may embolden Azerbaijan to act aggressively against Armenia. The Trump presidency might reduce U.S. engagement in the South Caucasus as domestic issues take priority. Expected tighter U.S. sanctions may weaken Iran’s regional influence and ability to maintain proactive policies. Turkey continues to support Azerbaijan’s military operations as part of its strategy to counterbalance Russian and Iranian influence. Additionally, Russia’s ongoing focus on Ukraine limits its capacity to assert influence in the South Caucasus, potentially creating an opportunity for Azerbaijan to pursue its objectives.

Implications for Armenia

Azerbaijan’s growing military budget and economic vulnerabilities, coupled with the outlined geopolitical factors, create a volatile mix that could increase the likelihood of renewed conflict with Armenia. While the scale and scope of such a conflict remain speculative, even limited clashes could escalate beyond previous skirmishes, such as those seen in September 2022. Importantly, the cost of launching an attack and achieving success has risen since those clashes, making future military actions potentially more challenging.

Azerbaijan’s 2025 budget, much like its fiscal policies in 2014, signals a peak in the economic cycle. Following the economic downturn after 2014, Azerbaijan resorted to escalating tensions, a pattern that may repeat if the vicious cycle repeats itself. The intensifying militarization since 2020 suggests a longer-term strategic calculus, indicating that Azerbaijan may once again use conflict as a tool to navigate internal economic and political pressures.

 

 

https://www.thecaliforniacourier.com/azerbaijan-sets-record-5-billion-military-budget-amid-looming-economic-hurdles/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIEFW9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVaTTJmzRcvZmyh_Zi5P7LWpntgICS_wXggBpAJC9w0iQwXt_4__mfbW0Q_aem_Uo7XhiyjaNC5WUgg8eQtWQ

 

--

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Azerbaijan21:23, 27 January 2025

French MP François-Xavier Bellamy urges authorities to respond to Azerbaijan's actions

Read the article in: العربيةFrançaisՀայերենРусский

French MP François-Xavier Bellamy has called on French authorities to take action in response to Baku's steps, as he believes Azerbaijan is openly attacking France's territorial integrity.

“Azerbaijan is now organizing a congress in Nouméa to 'decolonize' New Caledonia, calling for a 'fight' around the world, and insulting our law enforcement,” French MP François-Xavier Bellamy posted on X.

“A criminal regime is publicly attacking the integrity of France. When will the state finally respond?” he added.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1210571?fbclid=IwY2xjawIFZPBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbc0L5-Du35g5nV5sOTA1EeBYebSQy3hQuGgwFJBVwW4HABYzUueimvBjg_aem_r0uXCYl61niYuKyrroJxyQ

[Yervant1]

With the same logic, soviet gave Artsakh to azerbaboons. Return it! What an idiot.

 

Quote

 

APA, Azerbaijan

Jan 28 2025

 

President Ilham Aliyev: Armenia must fulfill its obligations and provide unhindered passage from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan

“Both on the international stage and in bilateral contacts with Armenia, we consistently emphasize one point: there must be unhindered passage from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan. There must be smooth and unrestricted passage from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan, without any inspections or obstacles. This is our demand,” said President Ilham Aliyev during a meeting dedicated to transportation issues, APA reports.

Recalling that the Soviet regime took Western Zangezur from Azerbaijan in 1920, committing a crime against the Azerbaijani people, the head of state also noted: “We have not forgotten Zangezur, and we will not forget it. I repeat, we have no territorial claims against Armenia. However, Armenia must fulfill its obligations and provide unrestricted passage from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan.”

https://en.apa.az/official-news/president-ilham-aliyev-armenia-must-fulfill-its-obligations-and-provide-unhindered-passage-from-azerbaijan-to-azerbaijan-459187

 

 

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Analytical17:27, 1 February 2025

Azerbaijan using plane crash as a pretext to pressure Russia – Political Scientist

Read the article in: ՀայերենРусский

Russia and Azerbaijan are guided by their own interests and are trying to present the situation following the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane in a way that aligns with their interests. 

Azerbaijan is using this incident to strengthen its position, aiming to leverage it as a means of pressure in future negotiations with Russia, political scientist Norayr Dunamalyan said in an interview with Armenpress, addressing the recent tensions in Russia-Azerbaijan relations.

"We must take into account that Russia is currently more dependent on Azerbaijan and Turkey, as the supply of Russian gas and oil to European countries is largely conducted through their territories. Azerbaijan believes that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict will eventually come to an end or be frozen. Therefore, they are trying to create a counterbalance for themselves—while being dependent on Russia, they also seek to make Russia dependent on them," Dunamalyan explained.

According to the political scientist, official Baku’s behavior is quite aggressive, as reflected in both statements and the information field. As a result, the wave of reactions in Azerbaijan is directed against Russia, aiming to extract certain compromises.

"The Turkish factor is always present in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, and it is essential to consider the interconnectedness of various issues. In this context, the transit of energy resources plays a crucial role. Consequently, in many matters, including Russian-Azerbaijani relations, Azerbaijan directly follows the lead of its 'big brother,' Turkey.

There is also a geopolitical aspect: the change of power in Syria has weakened Russia's position in the Middle East. This could also have an impact on the South Caucasus, where Russia is now operating from a weaker position than a few months ago," he elaborated.

Dunamalyan noted that both Azerbaijan and Turkey are seeking concessions from Russia, while Russia is trying to resist in every possible way, though its leverage in this matter has already diminished.

"Russian elites do not see this situation solely as a consequence of strained Russia-Azerbaijan or Russia-Turkey relations but rather as part of the broader Russia-West confrontation," he concluded.

“However, many believe that no direct confrontation between Russia and Azerbaijan is possible. On the other hand, Russia has economic leverage over Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijani ruling circles, including the president and his family, are seen as an integral part of the broader elite of the post-Soviet space. In other words, the two sides can both cooperate and challenge each other," Dunamalyan stated.

According to the political scientist, further  relations between Russia and Azerbaijan will depend on broader geopolitical developments. He noted that Russia might make compromises with Azerbaijan, though they will not be significant and may even come at the expense of other countries-such as Armenia-given the ongoing difficulties in the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and the obstacles to implementing energy and infrastructure projects.

"It is evident that Azerbaijan currently holds a stronger position, reinforced by the support of Turkey and, to some extent, the West. At first glance, the situation appears complex, but in reality, the interconnectedness of these processes is quite clear," the political scientist concluded.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1210961?fbclid=IwY2xjawIMAj9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQca71ZswBcJ_hVsLfg0WFG3a0HmWmq0xjLWRW7RLGwMFp3EifvkjFfTgA_aem_P4ML5bq7XpP4p5ZwBdS9eA

[Yervant1]

Panorama, Armenia

Feb 8 2026

 

 

Azerbaijan destroys Armenian megalithic monument near Al Lakes

 

Satellite imagery analysis conducted by the Armenian Cultural Landscape organization reveals that Azerbaijan has destroyed the megalithic monument at the Al Lakes, a significant site in Armenia's megalithic culture.

According to archaeologist Levon Mkrtchyan, the monument was unique in both its size and structure, the Monument Watch reports.

This site fell under Azerbaijani occupation during the 2020 Artsakh war and subsequent military aggression against Armenia in 2021. 

Due to its strategic location near the border, the monument was demolished to make way for the construction of a military facility.

 

https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2025/02/07/Armenian-monument-destruction/3111351

 

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Azerbaijan12:01, 10 February 2025

Azerbaijan resumes sham trial of Ruben Vardanyan

Read the article in: EspañolՀայերենРусский

A Baku court will resume on February 10 the trial of former Nagorno-Karabakh official Ruben Vardanyan in what has been widely described as a politically-motivated sham trial. 

Vardanyan’s case is examined separately from the other jailed former Karabakh officials who include ex-presidents and military commanders facing fabricated war crime charges.

Vardanyan, the former State Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, has vehemently denied all charges against him which include “financing terrorism” and “illegally entering” Karabakh. Vardanyan, as well as many experts, have described the charges as falsifications. The former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo recently once again slammed the charges as bogus, emphasizing that Baku is using the show trials to cover up its crimes in Nagorno-Karabakh. 

Prominent lawyer Siranush Sahakyan, the legal representative of the interests of Armenian POWs before the European Court of Human Rights, earlier said that the court materials were distorted during translation and Vardanyan’s lawyer has requested to replace the translator.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1211600?fbclid=IwY2xjawIX62FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHddgHUJl1TZqdZl_bvzrH9SOqVExusOg9VtHn4fiNmzGaC-UYf5S3wbWJg_aem_mNK4e5eY6x0uwnrzR2wIsQ

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Politics12:13, 11 February 2025

Azerbaijan could be communicating with Russia about Armenia talks, says Speaker

Read the article in: العربيةEspañolՀայերեն

Armenian Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan on Tuesday didn’t rule out that Azerbaijan could be communicating the Armenia negotiations content with Russia.

Speaking to reporters in parliament, Speaker Simonyan mentioned that the allied relationship between Russia and Azerbaijan has been playing a rather big role in all recent developments.

The fact that to this day Azerbaijan hasn’t responded to Armenia’s recent peace treaty proposals could be linked with the Azerbaijan-Russia tensions, he said. 

“No development in the region takes place without either positive or negative mediation and at least attempts to interfere by big players. And I think that the allied relations between Azerbaijan and Russia have played a rather big role in all the actions of the recent times. For instance, Azerbaijan’s readiness to negotiate in specific places and refusal to negotiate in specific places and so on,” he said.

Asked whether Azerbaijan is communicating the negotiations package with Russia, Simonyan said he cannot confirm or rule out such a hypothesis. 

“I think the Azerbaijani side understands that Armenia’s independence, Armenia’s sovereignty, the future of Armenia’s independence and Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, its future, all these issues are highly interconnected. And this is in our hands. And today we have a historic chance to resolve this issue once and for all and pass to our generations a peaceful co-existence,” the Speaker said.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1211710?fbclid=IwY2xjawIYnCtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQp3kH4pzvfthzVgGXJNQ7dWdSrXTPBfM7TwGcfCLrtwNGJ6sU7c-bfGvA_aem_xa8ABXnMHnWj6lYUkWctUw

[Yervant1]

Azatutyun.am

 

Baku Dismisses Armenian Proposal On Transport Links

Փետրվար 11, 2025

• Shoghik Galstian

 

Azerbaijan - The Building of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry in Baku.

 

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry dismissed on Tuesday an Armenian proposal regarding practical modalities of opening transport links between Azerbaijan and its Nakhichevan exclave via Armenia.

The Armenian government made the still unpublicized proposal last fall in response to Baku’s continuing demands for an extraterritorial land corridor that would pass through a key Armenian region.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev continued to accuse Yerevan last month of not complying with a relevant provision of a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement that stopped the 2020 Armenian-Azerbaijani war in Nagorno-Karabakh. The clause commits Armenia to opening rail and road links between Nakhichevan and the rest of Azerbaijan.

The Armenian government maintains that it does not stipulate that people and cargo transported to and from Nakhichevan must be exempt from Armenian border checks. The government has said that it can only agree to “simplified procedures” for Armenian-Azerbaijani border crossings and cargo transit.

In an article published on Monday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said Yerevan still “awaits Azerbaijan's positive response” to its proposal. The main thrust of the article was that Azerbaijan may be preparing the ground to attack Armenia.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman, Aykhan Hajizade, denied the claim. He also said that the proposal mentioned by Pashinian has no “practical significance” and leads to “misunderstandings.”

Armenian parliament speaker Alen Simonian, who is a key political ally of Pashinian, downplayed Hajizade’s reaction, saying that it does not amount of an official rejection of the Armenian proposal on the transport links.

“As long as they have not said, ‘Sorry, this is not acceptable to us’ let’s that try this option: we are waiting for a reply [from Baku,]” Simonian told journalists.

Aliyev threatened to use force to open the “Zangezur corridor” in televised remarks aired on January 7. He also repeated his multiple preconditions for a peace treaty with Armenia.

Pashinian has since continued to promote Yerevan’s Crossroads of Peace project which stipulates that the two South Caucasus states should have full control of transport infrastructure inside each other’s territory. Aliyev shrugged off the project on January 28, saying that it is “not worth a penny.”

 

 

https://www.azatutyun.am/a/33310989.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawIYsHZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQUM1pABZ2St-1aPpJbPSPjPBruIAF3T7Dd1Kfu3RJBjaIy7Hnda_QeR1A_aem_eY8oRjYuTzWja72lcQ3Xrw

[Yervant1]

Feb 13 2025

 

 

“Azerbaijan is Torturing Armenian Prisoners of War”: Legal Researcher and Lawyer Maria Gevorgyan

 

“Seeking justice in Azerbaijan is futile for individuals of Armenian descent.”

• Uzay Bulut
• — February 13, 2025

 

Artsakh, for millennia home to a predominantly Armenian population, declared independence in 1991 from the Soviet Union. In September 2020, Azerbaijan—with the help of Turkey—launched a 44-day war against Artsakh, followed by a 10-month blockade and military assault in 2023, leading to the forced displacement of around 120,000 Armenians.

The trilateral ceasefire agreement signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia in  November 2020 was supposed to halt the war. The agreement mandated the exchange of prisoners of war (POWs), hostages and detainees, as well as the repatriation of the remains of deceased individuals. Azerbaijan, however, has failed to honor the agreement.

After the Azeri bombardment of Artsakh in September 2023, Azerbaijan took even more Armenian hostages, and is now confirmed to be holding  at least 23. However, the real figure may be as high as 100, according to Christian Solidarity International (CSI).

According to the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART UK):

All of these individuals have been denied their legal rights under international human rights law, and the abuse and mistreatment of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijani detention is well-documented …. As many as 80 more Armenians are considered ‘forcibly disappeared’—they were last seen in the hands of Azerbaijani soldiers, though Azerbaijan does not acknowledge detaining them.

Sixteen Armenian hostages and prisoners of war (POWs) are currently facing trials that began on January 17 in the Baku Military Court in Azerbaijan. The latest trial is took place on February 11.

---

Maria Gevorgyan a legal researcher and lawyer with the Yerevan-based Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ), sat down with europeanconservative.com to discuss the situation.

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The Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ) has requested that Azerbaijan allow international legal experts to observe the trials. Have you received an answer? How many trials have taken place so far? 

Firstly, the lack of transparency makes it exceedingly difficult to ascertain the proceedings. Despite assurances of public hearings, Azerbaijan has effectively conducted closed-door trials, permitting only select state-controlled media outlets to attend, while denying access to international agencies such as Reuters. CFTJ has formally requested that Azerbaijan allow international legal experts to observe these trials—as of February 7, there has been no response.

Are these trials fair in your assessment?  

These proceedings are simply a mockery of justice. Seeking justice in Azerbaijan is futile for individuals of Armenian descent. The ECtHR has held Azerbaijan accountable in multiple cases (eg. Makuchyan and Minasyan v. Azerbaijan; Saribekyan and Balyan v. Azerbaijan) involving the extrajudicial killing and mistreatment of ethnic Armenians, highlighting a persistent pattern of neglect, ineffective investigations, and failure to communicate with victims’ families or Armenian authorities during domestic proceedings. This underscores systemic issues within Azerbaijan’s legal framework, especially regarding ethnic Armenians.

The right to a fair trial is enshrined in Articles 14 and 16 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), both of which are binding on Azerbaijan. Yet, available information points to multiple Azeri violations of this right, including the failure to inform defendants of charges in a language they understand, denial of legal assistance, coercion to testify against oneself, and insufficient time and facilities to prepare a defence.

Do you have information as to whether the hostages are ill-treated or tortured? 

CFTJ’s investigations, including interviews with repatriated POWs and detainees, have documented that every interviewed POW reported enduring both physical and psychological torture, as well as inhumane treatment during captivity. 

One Armenian POW recounted: “Approximately twenty Azerbaijanis entered the cell and started beating everyone. They used batons, hammers, pliers, all possible construction equipment, chains, ropes, belts, etc., to beat us.” He added: “Once, a couple of Azerbaijanis entered the cell with a young civilian boy. He seemed to be the son of the Azerbaijani commander who also entered the cell. The Azerbaijanis threw one of the POWs in the middle of the cell. They gave the boy a rubber baton, and he started beating the POW over his head, legs, back, and stomach for a few minutes. One of the Azerbaijanis was filming this.”

Another POW stated: “While we were lying naked on the cold floor, an Azerbaijani ran over my back. They [the Azerbaijani guards] were making me stand, not allowing me to sit down or lie down. They [the Azerbaijani guards] would make us yell that Karabakh is Azerbaijan or ‘long live Azerbaijan’, ‘long live Ilham Aliyev [Azerbaijani President]’ every time when the door would open.”

One of those hostages is Vicken Euljekjian, a Lebanese-born Armenian civilian. There are reports that he has developed serious physical and mental health problems since he was jailed in Baku in 2020. Have you been able to obtain updated information about Vicken’s health? 

Regarding Vicken Euljeckjian, in June 2024, CFTJ submitted the first individual complaint, a request for an allegation letter under urgent procedure, to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. According to evidence collected by CFTJ, there are reasonable grounds to believe that Vicken has been subjected to systematic torture and inhumane treatment during his detention, including physical and psychological abuse and medical neglect. However, no response has been received to date. CFTJ also recently submitted a shadow report to the UN Committee against Torture in advance of the Committee’s consideration of Azerbaijan’s fifth periodic report under Article 19 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Some of the Armenian POWs are now missing. Some have reportedly been murdered. Has Azerbaijan given any information to Armenia regarding the state of those missing Armenians? 

Ever since the 2020 Ceasefire Agreement, Azerbaijan has been implicated in condoning, facilitating, and directly perpetrating forced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings of both ethnic Armenian civilians and soldiers in secret detention facilities. Testimonies from relatives of the victims, and occasionally from those who were forcibly detained and subsequently released, provide evidence of the deliberate exploitation by Azerbaijani authorities of secret detention conditions and the status of being ‘missing’ to inflict severe physical and psychological harm on the ethnic Armenian captives and their family members. Furthermore, Azerbaijani officials have intentionally withheld information about the whereabouts of missing persons from the ICRC and the state of Armenia.

[Yervant1]

MediaMax, Armenia
Feb 14 2025


Canadian expert: The burden of peace falls almost entirely on Armenia

Yerevan /Mediamax/. The burden of peace falls almost entirely on Armenia, as Azerbaijan faces no significant external pressure.

This was said by Jean-François Ratelle, a lecturer at the University of Ottawa, speaking at the discussion “Armenia and Georgia on the Edge” organized by the Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies at Carleton University.

Ratelle expressed an opinion that Armenia’s weak negotiating position is a key factor that could further impede negotiations. He stressed that achieving peace in such a context requires a win-win economic solution, citing historical examples from former Communist countries that demonstrated the importance of economic incentives for peace.

Jean-François Ratelle pointed out that issues, such as addressing war trauma, cultural heritage, and Armenian sovereignty, remain neglected, with little international pressure on Azerbaijan to seek justice.

In his words, Armenia’s regional isolation further complicates efforts to establish peace, as it leaves the country without the leverage needed in negotiations. Ratelle also warned that any peace agreement could ultimately undermine Armenia’s security, as Azerbaijan faces no significant restraints or sanctions. He also emphasized the need for countries like Canada and EU member states, to help curb Azerbaijan’s maximalist demands.

https://mediamax.am/en/news/region/56959/

[Yervant1]

TheCaliforniaCourier.com

 

Moscow cracks down on Azerbaijani migrants after rift with Baku

· FEBRUARY 13, 2025

By Cavid Aga

Intellinews.com

Baku — The fractures in Russia-Azerbaijan relations are widening, exacerbated by the fallout from the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger aircraft and subsequent diplomatic disputes. The latest concerns an Azerbaijani ban on Nikolay Valuev, a senior lawmaker in Russia’s ruling United Russia party.

Moscow’s reaction to the plane’s downing has evolved from silence to outright denial and, ultimately, to deflection, as the Kremlin refrains from accepting responsibility for what Azerbaijani officials assert was a Russian missile strike on the aircraft over Chechnya. Despite President Vladimir Putin’s formal apology to President Ilham Aliyev, Russian media and political circles have intensified a smear campaign against Azerbaijan.

One of the most visible consequences of deteriorating relations has been the increased pressure on Azerbaijanis living in Russia. Moscow’s crackdown on migrants, while framed as a general tightening of immigration rules, has disproportionately affected Azerbaijanis. Russian Telegram channels and state-aligned media have amplified xenophobic narratives, portraying Azerbaijanis as the primary migrant group in the country. Some reports indicate that even Russian citizens of Azerbaijani origin have been subjected to scrutiny, feeding suspicions that migration policies are being weaponized in response to diplomatic tensions.

The anti-Azerbaijani campaign has extended to the Russian State Duma. Valuev recently made derogatory remarks about Azerbaijan, prompting Baku to declare him persona non grata. Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry condemned his statements as “unacceptable”. His ban follows similar measures against other Russian lawmakers, including Konstantin Zatulin and Vitaly Milonov, for their activities against Azerbaijan’s sovereignty.

Valuev, in response, expressed indifference to the ban, remarking that he had no intention of visiting Azerbaijan. However, his comments on Azerbaijan’s influence in Russia — specifically targeting Azerbaijani diaspora groups as centers of “power, influence and crime” — align with a broader anti-Azerbaijani discourse emerging in Russian nationalist circles.

Tensions reached new heights when Azerbaijan shut down the Russian House (Rossotrudnichestvo) Russian cultural center in Baku, citing its lack of legal registration. Pro-government Azerbaijani analysts have pointed out that while the center was ostensibly focused on cultural and humanitarian ties, it had also become a platform for Russian influence operations. Reports have linked Rossotrudnichestvo facilities in various countries to intelligence activities, with similar institutions closed across Europe after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The opposition, however, sees recent saber-rattling as disingenuous. According to them, the Russian House being located just next to the Government House, it couldn’t have suddenly been found to be an espionage center.

Following the center’s closure, Russian media intensified its criticism of Azerbaijan, with some lawmakers calling for retaliatory measures. Unverified reports from Russian Telegram channels have suggested that Moscow is considering economic and diplomatic countermeasures, including restrictions on remittances from Azerbaijani workers in Russia and potential trade disruptions.

Among the purported options on the table for Russia is the suspension of Azerbaijani oil exports through the Novorossiysk pipeline — a move that would primarily hurt Baku’s revenues. However, Azerbaijan has alternative export routes, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and the Baku-Supsa pipeline, limiting the effectiveness of such a measure according to the claims of pro-government outlets.

More alarmingly for Azerbaijan, some Russian sources have hinted at revisiting long-dormant separatist issues in Azerbaijan, particularly concerning the Lezgi minority. According to Azerbaijani media, which often speaks as a quasi-official government media organ, this echoes past Russian strategies of leveraging ethnic grievances as geopolitical tools, a pattern seen in Moscow’s historical support for Armenian separatists in Karabakh. Any overt encouragement of separatism would mark a dangerous escalation, potentially destabilizing the North Caucasus region itself, where Moscow has struggled to contain its own ethnic tensions.

Azerbaijan’s decisive steps — banning anti-Baku Russian lawmakers and shutting down Russian influence institutions — signal a shift in its approach to Moscow. While economic interdependence remains significant, Baku is asserting its sovereignty more forcefully, even at the risk of Russian economic pressure. According to Azerbaijani expectations, Moscow, facing a deteriorating war in Ukraine and tightening Western sanctions, can ill afford to alienate another regional partner. However, the Kremlin’s long-standing imperial mindset leaves little room for equal partnerships. If Russia chooses escalation — through economic measures or covert destabilization efforts — it risks further isolating itself in the region.

 

 

https://www.thecaliforniacourier.com/moscow-cracks-down-on-azerbaijani-migrants-after-rift-with-baku/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIfTRBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHX0dPfn7J-NpE09sLg0TUvVp3r8g2t29pIok-CG9eY4tAY2r3EqzJ2ntJw_aem_RDFa_E8zXNO7XgHez6vFhA

[Yervant1]

The Maine Wire

Feb 19 2025

 

Maine ‘Office of New Americans’ Director Faces Backlash, Calls for Resignation Over Anti-Armenian Social Media Posts

By Edward Tomic

 

Several members of Maine’s Armenian community are calling for the resignation of the director of the Maine Office of New Americans (ONA) due to his history of making anti-Armenian comments on social media.

Tarlan Ahmadov was appointed by Gov. Janet Mills as ONA director in December 2024. Ahmadov previously served as the director of the Division of Programs at Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Employment Services, and as the state refugee coordinator with Catholic Charities Maine.

[RELATED: Janet Mills Names Director of Taxpayer-Funded State Migrant Resettlement Office…]

ONA, the state migrant resettlement office, was initially put forward in an executive order by Gov. Mills in August 2023. Mills directed the Governor’s Office of Policy, Innovation and the Future (GOPIF) to develop a plan to create the ONA, as part of a nationwide network of similar state resettlement offices.

Although a standalone bill to create the office sponsored by Ahmadov’s longtime friend, Rep. Deqa Dhalac (D-South Portland), failed to pass during the last legislative session, on the final day of the session Democratic lawmakers attached just over $300,000 to fund the creation of the ONA to the budget, which was passed on a party line vote.

[RELATED: Mills Admin, Nonprofits, and Big Biz Back New Migrant Resettlement Agency for Maine…]

Ahmadov, himself an immigrant to Maine from Azerbaijan, is also the founder of the Azerbaijan Society of Maine, and comments extensively on Azeri geopolitical issues on his X profile, where he posts under the handle “Falcon.”

Although Ahmadov did not respond to inquiries from the Maine Wire, he changed the location on his X profile Wednesday morning to Mainesville, Ohio, before deleting the account altogether.

Among his posts on X are several that are critical of Armenia and use harsh rhetoric against the Armenian people.

In the fall of 2020, shortly after conflict erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Ahmadov made a post referring to Armenia as an “Occupant and Aggressor” with a map showing the Armenian flag covering the western seaboard of the U.S., an area of the country with a large Armenian-American diaspora population.

A similar post made by Ahmadov asks, “Why not to recognize California as independent Armenian Republic? There are a lot Armenians there ? [sic]”

In another post made that same year, Ahmadov suggested that celebrity Kim Kardashian is a terrorist for making a donation to an Armenian organization.

Ahmadov also called former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick “turkophobic” for making a statement in support of Armenia against Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Ahmadov previously attracted criticism in his role as president of the Azerbaijan Society of Maine for drafting a controversial mayoral proclamation for the City of Portland in early 2021 to recognize Feb. 26 at “Khojaly Remembrance Day,” referring to the 1992 killing of hundreds of Azerbaijani civilians by Armenian and Soviet forces, and describing the massacre as a genocide.

That proclamation was later rescinded by then-Portland Mayor Kate Snyder after criticism from the city’s Armenian-American population, who argued the proclamation was inaccurate and part of a propaganda campaign by Azerbaijan and Turkey.

In contrast to his history of vitriolic social media posts about Armenians, Ahmadov said following his appointment as ONA director that he will “foster welcoming communities across the state.”

Ahmadov’s appointment was celebrated at the time by representatives of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Catholic Charities Maine, the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, the Maine Immigrants Rights Coalition, and a slew of other migrant advocacy nonprofit organizations.

In an email thread on which the Maine Wire was CC’d, Armenian Mainers and representatives of Maine’s migrant community called for Ahmadov to resign or be fired in the wake of his comments.

Husein Sahnun emailed statement to GOPIF Director Hannah Pingree, Deputy Director Sarah Curran, and Communications Director Jackie Farwell:

This week, as new Mainers, we came across a troubling video that led us to examine Tarlan Ahmadov’s X account. Thanks to the Maine Wire please see attached below for evidence, what we found was shocking—Mr. Ahmadov’s posts were filled with hateful rhetoric toward the Armenian community. He has labeled Armenians as “occupiers and aggressors” and even went so far as to call Kim Kardashian’s charitable donation to Armenians an act of “terrorism.”

Armenians have a long and significant history in Maine. They fled persecution, rebuilt their lives here, and have become vital contributors to both our state and nation. Tarlan Ahmadov’s blatant bias and hostility toward members of our communities make it clear that he is unfit for office. His own words speak for themselves.

We call for his immediate resignation. If he remains in office, the credibility of that office within our diverse communities will be irreparably damaged. He does not have our support. Please feel free to share this email with anyone else concerned whose email accounts we could not find on your site.

Ahmudi Aweys email:

I’d like to add this letter to the editor for everyone to see. In that letter, It is shocking that Tarlan Ahmadov had the Portland mayor sign a proclamation accusing Armenians of committing genocide—while completely ignoring the atrocities committed by his own country, Azerbaijan, which has killed many Armenians. This is sickening.

Tarlan is unfit for office and must be held accountable for his hateful words and propaganda. His behavior should be condemned.

Abdi Iftin email:

Truly shocking! The Armenian community deserves respect and recognition for their contribution to the state of Maine. Tarlan expressed the opposite of that.

As of today, I’m withdrawing my support for Tarlan Ahmadov and encouraging others to do the same. His continued time in office will only bring more harm to our community. 

The embattled Ahmadov has built an impressive career working with foreign governments, migrant resettlement agencies, and USAID-funded NGOs, while establishing deep ties to the Maine Democratic Party.

Prior to his immigration to the U.S. in 2003, Ahmadov worked in the education field in Baku, Azerbaijan, and later worked as a consultant to the Azeri Consulate in Tehran, Iran, according to a summary of his biographical information shared by the Maine Department of Labor.

Ahmadov worked with various international NGOs, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), a USAID and National Endowment for Democracy cutout that has programs in more than 50 countries globally.

Ahmadov’s biography states that he has visited over 45 countries for “business, training, and teaching purposes.”

Rep. Deqa Dhalac, sponsor of the bill to create the ONA, was one of three Maine lawmakers — alongside State Sen. Jill Duson (D-Dumberland) and Rep. Mana Abdi (D-Lewiston) — who took a trip with Ahmadov to Azerbaijan last May.

Gerard Kiladjian, president of the Armenian Cultural Association of Maine, sent a letter to Rep. Dhalac and the other state officials who went on the trip to Azerbaijan, expressing concern that the lawmakers had been “exposed to a grossly distorted and self-serving misrepresentation of the realities of the Armenian-Azeri conflict.”

“Quite frankly, we are shocked and heartbroken that, to our knowledge, at no point during or after your trip did you acknowledge Azerbaijan’s recent ethnic cleansing of Karabakh’s indigenous Armenian population, the last remaining 120,000 of whom were harassed, attacked, starved, and ultimately forced off their ancestral lands and into the neighboring Armenian Republic,” Kiladjian wrote to the state officials.

The Maine Wire has reached out to Kiladjian for comment on Ahmadov’s anti-Armenian social media posts, and whether the Armenian Cultural Association of Maine will call for Ahmadov’s resignation.

https://www.themainewire.com/2025/02/maine-office-of-new-americans-director-faces-backlash-calls-for-resignation-over-anti-armenian-social-media-posts/

 

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Azerbaijan15:41, 22 February 2025

‘Truly sad’, French envoy on Azerbaijan suspending local BBC operations

Read the article in: ՀայերենРусский

French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Boillon has expressed regret over Baku’s decision to suspend the BBC Azerbaijani operations.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday ordered the suspension of BBC News' Azerbaijani service, which operated in the country since 1994.

“The BBC's provision of services in Azerbaijani [language] was a sign of respect and interest in the Azerbaijani people and culture. This is truly sad. France knows what it owes the BBC,” French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Boillon said in a post on X, commenting on the suspension.

The BBC said in a statement on Thursday that it had made the "reluctant decision" to close its office in the country after receiving a verbal instruction from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The corporation added that it "deeply" regrets "this restrictive move against press freedom".

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1212675?fbclid=IwY2xjawInqQRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXcy6e2aoMA2Zrzbo7BrtmqhpNr7fd3YMvZmM6ZbEQo_35jBXCWW8RGtAA_aem_GRJJVLg7azmS-uLjzGssTQ

[Yervant1]

Modern Diplomacy

Feb 24 2025

 

 

Azerbaijan’s “Scrolling Aggression” Could Blow Up Soon

 

Azerbaijan’s victory in the long-disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh was not the end of its conflict with Armenia and Armenians, but merely a turning point in an ongoing campaign.

ByDavid Akopyan

ByDavid Akopyan

Azerbaijan’s victory in the long-disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh was not the end of its conflict with Armenia and Armenians, but merely a turning point in an ongoing campaign. Below the radar of a distracted West, Baku has pursued what might in the spirit of the times be called “scrolling aggression” — a gradual escalation while avoiding anything dramatic enough to trigger a serious Western response. That could be about to change.

Until now, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has expanded influence incrementally—by seizing small territories, using diplomatic coercion, ensuring through aggressive rhetoric that Armenia remains on the defensive, then in late 2022 blockading Nagorno-Karabakh and finally, in Sept. 2023, attacking it and causing the exodus of its 120,000 ethnic Armenians. All of that was somehow below the threshold of global consequences.

Now Aliyev is after an even bigger prize: the Zangezur (or Meghri) “Corridor”, which Azerbaijan sees as a critical trade route between its Turkish patron and Central Asia. He  knows his military and economic superiority will not last forever, and views the next year or two as a critical window to act before Armenia closes the gap. The questions are whether Armenia will properly prepare – and whether the West will continue its  indifference and acquiescence. Aliyev’s approach is shaped by four key factors:

• Internal Politics and Armenophobia: Years of state-sponsored hatred against Armenians have created strong public expectations in Azerbaijan for continued pressure on Armenia. Aliyev leverages this sentiment to maintain his autocratic rule, one of the harshest in the world by any measure, distracting from internal economic challenges.
• Fear of Decline: Azerbaijan’s economy is currently at its peak, bolstered by high oil and gas revenues, about $75 billion in reserves (SOFAZ State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan assets and national reserves) and a $5 billion military budget for 2025 (compared to Armenia’s $1.7 billion). However, Armenia’s per capita GDP is rising faster, and as Azerbaijan’s oil wealth declines, the gap will close. Aliyev understands this and sees 2025 as a closing window for action.
• The Prevailing Hobbesian Winds: Vladimir Putin’s assault on Ukraine, Turkey’s brutal interventions in Syria, and not Donald Trump’s own threats against Denmark (over Greenland), Panama (over the canal) and Canada (which he seems to want to annex all suggest a perhaps limited period in which might makes right.
• Aliyev’s Subtler Relationship with the West: Unlike Russia’s Vladimir  Putin or Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, Aliyev has kept diplomatic bridges intact. He regularly attends the World Economic Forum in Davos, engages Western leaders, and offers transactional deals that make the EU hesitant to confront him.

Against this complex background, the likelihood of an attack on the corridor cannot be dismissed. If global distractions — such as an Israel-Iran war or Trump deploying U.S. Marines elsewhere — arise, Aliyev may use the smokescreen to escalate. If he calculates this will keep him below the threshold still, he may call the land grab temporary, aimed at securing a trade route for the moment.

Part of the equation is the shifting regional balance of power, mainly involving  Turkey playing an increasingly decisive role in shaping the South Caucasus.

• Turkey’s Strategic Victory in Syria: Following regime change in Syria in December 2024, with the victory of rebels back by Turkey, Ankara has significantly expanded its influence. The key question now is whether Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will consolidate power in Syria only – or leverage his momentum to push further for a pro-Turkic corridor through Zangezur to Azerbaijan and Central Asia.
• Turkey-Azerbaijan Alignment Strengthens: Turkey and Azerbaijan’s strategic alliance remains intact, despite the potentially embarrassing ethnic cleaning of Nagorno-Karabakh’s 120,000 ethnic Armenians.  Ankara continues to providing diplomatic cover and military support and will likely deploy its clout as a NATO member to ensure Azerbaijan faces minimal Western pushback.
• Russia’s Potential Return to the Region: A potential resolution of the Ukraine war could see Russia reasserting its influence in the South Caucasus. Depending on how events unfold, Moscow could either stabilize or further destabilize Armenia’s security situation.
• Iran’s Position in the South Caucasus: While Iran has historically opposed Azerbaijan’s expansionism, recent developments have weakened its ability to counterbalance Turkish and Azerbaijani moves. If Tehran is further weakened by external pressures, such as an Israeli attack on its nuclear sites, Baku may feel emboldened.

What are Armenia’s options? Recent efforts to strengthen U.S.-Armenia relations, including the January 14, 2025, Strategic Partnership Charter, mark progress, but Armenia still lacks the security guarantees provided to formal U.S. allies. While some figures in the Trump administration may be sympathetic to Armenia, the broader foreign policy direction will be transactional. Armenia must proactively demonstrate its strategic value to secure long-term U.S. support.

To counter Azerbaijan’s threats, Armenia should pursue a multi-faceted strategy:

• Accelerate Military Reforms: Defense modernization, including territorial defense forces and high-tech military solutions, must be a top priority. Existing investments in fortifications in the Tavush and Syunik regions must be matched by improved strategic coordination and reserve forces modeled after Israel, which is also a smallish country with huge challenges.
• Engage Trump’s Administration Effectively: Armenia must move quickly from “strategic partnership” to a formal alliance, leveraging geopolitical alignment and shared values to deepen ties.
• Strengthen EU Alliances: France, Germany, and Greece are key European partners. Expanding the EU monitoring mission and aligning security frameworks with NATO standards where possible will strengthen Armenia’s position.
• Maintain Open Channels: A potential resolution to the Ukraine war could bring Russia back into the South Caucasus. Armenia must remain flexible and avoid unnecessary friction with Moscow and Tehran and also build stronger relationships with India, China, Latin America, and Middle Eastern states. The goal is avoiding total dependence on one bloc.
• Economic Resilience and Defense Industrial Development: Armenia must prioritize the development of its own defense industry, reducing reliance on external suppliers. This includes investing in drone technology, cyber warfare capabilities, and a self-sufficient arms production sector.
• Counter Azerbaijan’s Narrative in International Arenas: Baku’s diplomatic efforts have largely shielded it from Western sanctions despite its aggression. Armenia must launch a global awareness campaign highlighting Azerbaijan’s human rights violations and expansionist ambitions to increase diplomatic pressure on Baku.

The next two years will determine whether the country secures its sovereignty or remains vulnerable to regional power plays. Much like the act of scrolling on one’s social feed, “scrolling aggression” can feel almost passive, and is not attract attention as a drama in its own right. This misleads: we are in a perilous moment that requires a far more proactive strategy than we have seen.

Armenia’s fate is not just a regional concern — it is a test case for the future of the international order. If Azerbaijan succeeds with tacit Western acceptance, it will validate the idea that force, not law, determines borders in the 21st century.

Coming on the heels of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Turkey’s interventions in Syria, and a rising trend of nations acting with impunity in their spheres of influence, and amid an isolationist streak in U.S. politics  — the risk is no less than a global descent into a Hobbesian world ruled by the law of the jungle.

David Akopyan

Worked 26 years for the UN in 15 countries across all regions. Last 10 years of his UN career in Afghanistan, Somalia, and Syria, holding leadership positions as UN Development Program deputy director, country director and Resident Representative.

 

https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2025/02/24/azerbaijans-scrolling-aggression-could-blow-up-soon/

 

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