Chairman: Armenia creates legal barriers to prevent Western Azerbaijanis’ return to homeland

Armenia is creating artificial legal obstacles for Azerbaijanis wishing to return to their homeland, said Sahib Mammadov, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Azerbaijan’s Citizens’ Labor Rights Protection League.

At a briefing on projects implemented under the “Return to Western Azerbaijan” initiative, Mammadov said that one of the pressing issues remains the protection of the rights of deported peoples, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

“The rights of deported Azerbaijanis have begun to be recognised at both the societal and state levels. The head of state pays attention to this issue. Discussions on this topic in the Milli Majlis (Parliament) are an indication of this support. At the same time, the activities of non-governmental organisations in this direction are also producing important results,” Mammadov noted.

He emphasised that the Armenian side is creating various legal and administrative barriers to prevent Azerbaijanis from exercising their right to return.

“They create artificial legal obstacles for those who want to return to their homeland. This indicates their concern over the issue. The achievements made in this area are quite significant, and the role of civil society institutions in these successes is very important,” he added.

Western Azerbaijan, covering an area of 29,800 square kilometres, is one of the most historically and geographically rich regions associated with Azerbaijani heritage. Once a vital part of ancient caravan routes linking the Caucasus and the Near East, it is bordered today by Georgia, Türkiye, Iran, and the Republic of Azerbaijan. While this territory is now internationally recognised as Armenia, historical records and cultural artefacts such as ancient settlements, fortresses, mosques, and inscriptions point to its deep-rooted Turkic-Oghuz and Azerbaijani past.

During the Russian Empire and Soviet rule, large-scale resettlement policies led to the systematic relocation of Armenians into these lands, coinciding with the gradual displacement and marginalisation of Azerbaijanis. These policies culminated in the late 20th century with the violent expulsion of Azerbaijanis from their ancestral homes amid the Karabakh conflict.

Following Azerbaijan’s victory in the 2020 Second Karabakh War, national efforts have expanded to include advocating for the rights and eventual return of Western Azerbaijanis. In this context, President Ilham Aliyev's "Concept of Return" initiative, which focuses on ensuring peaceful, safe and dignified return of Azerbaijanis expelled from modern-day Armenia, serves as a cornerstone for both political aspiration and cultural preservation. 

By Khagan Isayev