Azerbaijan urges The Guardian to reflect its perspective on Karabakh conflict

A letter has been sent to The Guardian following its publication about Alexis Pazoumian’s documentary Black Garden, calling on the international newspaper to include the Azerbaijani perspective when covering the history of the Karabakh conflict.

The letter was authored by Amir Aliyev, head of the Azerbaijani public association Centre for the Promotion of Human Rights, Caliber.Az reports.

Aliyev said the article, published on August 31, did not reflect several important historical facts, including the occupation of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognised territories and the forced displacement of more than one million Azerbaijanis.

The letter also criticised the article’s use of the term “Nagorno-Karabakh” rather than Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region and its description of the conflict as a “long-running territorial dispute” involving the predominantly Armenian population and Azerbaijani military campaigns.

Aliyev referred to the 2015 European Court of Human Rights ruling in Chiragov and Others v. Armenia, as well as four UN Security Council resolutions adopted in 1993 concerning Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and the withdrawal of occupying forces.

He called on The Guardian to provide space for Azerbaijanis who experienced forced displacement and violence, as well as victims and survivors of the Khojaly tragedy, to share their testimonies.

Aliyev also suggested that the publication consider documentaries by Azerbaijani filmmakers based on facts and eyewitness accounts to present different perspectives on the conflict’s history.

The letter said Aliyev was ready to provide the author with documented research, materials and eyewitness testimonies. It added that objective and balanced coverage was particularly important amid ongoing efforts by Azerbaijan and Armenia towards reconciliation and lasting peace.

By Aghakazim Guliyev