Azerbaijan summons German ambassador over President Steinmeier’s controversial post

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry summoned the German Ambassador, Ralf Horlemann, on March 31, 2025, to express a strong protest over a post made on the official Instagram account of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during his visit to Armenia.

According to the ministry, the post violated Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty by sharing the so-called "flag" of the former puppet regime previously established in Azerbaijan’s formerly occupied territories, Caliber.Az reports.

"During the meeting, a strong protest was expressed against the post made in the official Instagram channel of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier within his visit to Armenia, in violation of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, sharing so-called 'flag' of puppet regime previously established in Azerbaijan’s formerly occupied territories," the statement read.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry deemed this action an "open political provocation" and urged the German side to issue a public apology.

"It was emphasized that this open political provocation made during the regional visit is unacceptable, and the German side was urged to issue a public apology for this post," the statement added.

The ministry also noted that the post contradicted Germany’s official stance on supporting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, warning that it could undermine the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"It was also highlighted that the German President’s post contradicts statement on support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and undermines the ongoing peace process," the statement said.

Additionally, Azerbaijani officials criticised the post for referencing the Armenian residents of the Garabagh region while ignoring the plight of over one million Azerbaijanis forcibly displaced from their homes during Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

"Disregard of the rights of over one million Azerbaijanis who were forcibly displaced from Azerbaijan’s formerly occupied territories and Armenia is yet another indication of bias against Azerbaijan," the statement noted.

The ministry reiterated that the nearly 30-year conflict had been resolved through military and political means, restoring Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and historical justice. It also stressed that no administrative unit called "Nagorno-Garabagh" exists within Azerbaijan, calling on all parties to refrain from using politically motivated or misleading terminology.

"It was brought to the attention that the conflict, which lasted nearly 30 years, has been resolved through military and political means, restoring both the country’s territorial integrity and historical justice. It was also stressed that there is no administrative unit called 'Nagorno-Garabagh' in Azerbaijan, and all references to the region should avoid politically motivated or false terminology," the ministry stated.

By Vugar Khalilov