Aliyev’s statement about Khojaly and Armenian reactions

On May 28, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited Ivanyan (Azerbaijani name: Khojaly) settlement of Askeran region of Artsakh, where the ceremony of providing housing to resettled Azerbaijanis took place. The keys to the apartments were handed over by Ilham Aliyev himself. During the meeting with the Azerbaijanis, Aliyev delivered a speech in which he targeted the government of the Republic of Armenia several times.

In particular, speaking about the “Khojaly Genocide Monument Construction” in Ivanyan, which, according to him, started at the beginning of 2024, he noted:

“When the memorial complex in Khojaly is ready, the whole world will see the Armenian brutality. This is the truth and everyone should know it. Armenia itself must admit to this (meaning the Khojaly Genocide, ed.). It should apologize to us. By doing so, perhaps the present leadership of Armenia can mitigate the guilt of those savages, vandals, and bloodthirsty. If the leadership of Armenia fails to do this, I think it will never be able to rise to its feet. Armenia should recognize this tragedy, which is a war crime.”

“All of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur will become an enforcement zone. Works are already underway to ensure that the Azerbaijani people are forever sure that such tragedies will not happen to our people once again,” Aliyev added.

The President of Azerbaijan also noted that Armenia’s apology for the “Khojaly Genocide” will take place soon.

On the Armenian side, Artur Hovhannisyan, Secretary of the Civil Contract faction, responded to these statements of Aliyev.

“Different theses, discourses are being heard, ultimatums are also being voiced. We have a certain improvement in the atmosphere both in the Demarcation and Delimitation Commission and in the dialogue on the peace agreement, however, Azerbaijan continues to remain destructive, therefore we should not overestimate the situation, neither underestimate it to the point of depression. We have successes, achievements, because with the demarcation in Tavush, we deprived Azerbaijan of the last legitimate opportunity to attack Armenia. Let’s state that there is no more territory on which Azerbaijan can open fire and prove to the international community that it is its internationally recognized territory,” Artur Havhannisyan said.

The Gardman-Shirvan-Nakhijevan Pan-Armenian Union described Aliyev’s statement as “unbalanced.”

“It is ironic that such a demand is made by a president whose state and people he leads have carried out the following genocidal acts during the last century.

During the Tatar-Armenian clashes, the massacre and looting of the peaceful civilian Armenian population continued for two years.

In the spring of 1918, near the Shamkhor station, massacre, robbery, looting, kidnappings in the Armenian settlements adjacent to the stations located along the Baku-Tbilisi railway.

Forced deportation, massacre, robbery of the Armenians of Nukhi region in 1918-1919.

Forced deportation, massacre, robbery of the Armenians of Aresh region in 1918-1919.

Targeted massacre of Baku Armenians in 1918, September 15-17.

Forced deportation of Nakhichevan Armenians in 1918-1919.

Deportation, massacre, looting of Gardman’s Armenians in 1918-1920.

Massacre of Shushi Armenians in 1920, March 22-26.

Continuous violence against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918-1920.

Sumgait massacre in 1988.

Gandzak pogroms and deportations in 1988.

Baku massacre in 1990.

Ethnic cleansing of Northern Artsakh in 1991.

Maragha massacre in 1992.

The axing of Gurgen Margaryan in 2004.”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a briefing with journalists on May 29, but did not react to Aliyev’s statement about Khojaly. He emphasized that “there is a significant improvement in the atmosphere” in the peace agreement negotiations.

It should also be noted that on May 10, the meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries in Kazakhstan was characterized by the Armenian side as constructive. At the same time, both sides issued a similar statement that they agreed to continue negotiations on open issues.

Thus, on the one hand, the position of the Armenian authorities on signing a peace agreement with Azerbaijan, on the other hand, the demands of the Azerbaijani President about the “Khojaly Genocide,” cause contradictions between the statements of both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides aimed at improving relations between the two countries.

Alyona Hayrapetyan