Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s proposal to address the so-called “Western Azerbaijan” issue in parallel with the return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh is not only dangerous, but also effectively legitimizes false narratives promoted by Baku. This view was expressed by political analyst Gagik Hambaryan.
Politically and historically unacceptable
According to Hambaryan, the concept of “Western Azerbaijan” was artificially created in Baku in recent years. It has no historical or legal foundation. By contrast, the issue of Armenians from Artsakh is based on well-documented historical facts.
He notes that Armenians in Artsakh had various forms of autonomy for centuries. These ranged from melikdoms to the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast during the Soviet era.
Hambaryan emphasizes that even when Armenia did not exist as an independent state, Armenians in Artsakh formed an absolute majority. They also exercised elements of self-governance. In this context, he argues that equating their return with the “Western Azerbaijan” concept is unacceptable.
“Turning Armenians of Artsakh into a bargaining chip in talks with Baku is absurd,” the analyst says. He adds that leading regional historians have always treated Artsakh Armenians’ rights as an established fact. In contrast, the “Western Azerbaijan” thesis is a myth created by Aliyev.
Proposals without results
Hambaryan recalls that since November 2020, Pashinyan has repeatedly put forward proposals to the Azerbaijani president. None of them were taken seriously by official Baku.
Instead, Azerbaijan continued to act against Armenia’s interests. It steadily strengthened its position.
According to the analyst, the authorities attempt to present “peace” as a brand. They seek to sell it to Armenian society as an achievement. However, this policy comes at a tangible cost that Armenia has yet to pay.