Poll among Western Azerbaijanis refutes Armenian FM's statement on compensation
A recent public opinion poll conducted by the Centre for Social Research has challenged the statement made by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan regarding the voluntary withdrawal of Azerbaijanis from present-day Armenia and the payment of compensation.
The survey results reveal a stark contradiction between Mirzoyan’s claims and the lived experiences of Western Azerbaijanis, pointing to a history of ethnic cleansing rather than voluntary departure, Caliber.Az reports.
The Centre for Social Research, in a statement, detailed that the respondents were asked whether they had received any compensation from the Armenian government when they left their historical lands. The results were unequivocal: none of the 1,000 Western Azerbaijanis surveyed reported receiving compensation.
The survey, which was conducted between January 9-12, 2025, paints a stark picture of the reality faced by the Azerbaijani community in Armenia, contradicting the narrative put forward by Armenian officials. The findings underscore the longstanding grievances of Western Azerbaijanis, who assert that they were victims of forced expulsion and ethnic cleansing, rather than voluntary resettlement.
The claims made by the Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan at a press conference on January 8, 2025, regarding the Western Azerbaijan Community and the deportation of Azerbaijanis from the territory of present-day Armenia in general, are a falsification of history by Armenia.
The Western Azerbaijan Community has strongly criticized Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan’s recent statements, accusing him of making contradictory claims regarding the right of return for displaced Azerbaijanis.
By Vafa Guliyeva