"Do you want to turn Khankendi into Ukraine?" State-run AzTV exposes Kremlin's policy / VIDEO

The head of the state television channel Azerbaijan Television (AzTV) Rovshan Mammadov, who acts as a presenter on Həftə (Week) information and analytical programme on AZTV channel harshly criticized the behavior of the authorities of our northern neighbor, Russia. He wonders if Karabakh is such a tasty morsel for imperial states that they can't get away from it.

"Obviously, yes. Karabakh is such a strategic place that all the regional powers have their own plans, interests, and ambitions related to it. Some see Karabakh as a tool to influence Azerbaijan, to put pressure on our country, to control it. Others see Karabakh as a vast drug plant, an uncontrollable area for the transit of drugs to different countries, and others regard it as a colony where Azerbaijan's natural resources can be easily plundered. These beliefs have been so deeply rooted for 30 years that Iran, France, and Russia cannot yet come to terms with the fact that the Azerbaijani Army heroically liberated Armenia's occupied territories. They are still shocked by Azerbaijan's victory in the Patriotic War! After all, there is no such heroism in these countries. But for us, Karabakh is our Motherland, our honor, our dignity!

Either you reconsider relations with Azerbaijan - the victor, comprehensively accept the reality that 'Karabakh is Azerbaijan!' or there will be a different conversation," Mammadov stressed.

He recalled the words of President Ilham Aliyev: "I think important is that Armenia should openly declare what they do want. If they want to talk about the rights and security of Armenians in Karabakh, it will not work. We are ready to talk about that with Armenians who live in Karabakh, not with those who have been sent from Moscow hiding in their pockets billions of stolen money from Russian people, like a person called Vardanyan who was transferred from Moscow there with a very clear agenda. But we are ready to talk to those people in Karabakh who live there and who wants to live there. We are ready. By the way, this process has started. If not for external interference and attempts to block this process from some countries, which I just mentioned, I think the process could have had a better dynamic. But it has nothing to do with Pashinyan and his government. This must be separated. As I said, there is a consensus between Azerbaijan, the EU, the United States, and Russia. Those countries and the institution, which Azerbaijan sees as those who can be helpful."

Mammadov stressed that Russia should allow Azerbaijan to speak to its own citizens of Armenian nationality living in Karabakh.

"Aren't you seeking peace? And if you want to turn Khankendi into something like what happened in Ukraine, just say so! So far, the steps taken by Russia do not serve peace. Including sending emissaries to Karabakh, sending someone like Ruben Vardanyan to Khankendi, mentioning Armenian toponyms by Russian peacekeepers, etc.," the head of AzTV stressed.

Тимур Рзаев