Political commentator Hakob Badalyan argues that the current rhetoric used by official Yerevan may unintentionally contribute to the international legitimization of Azerbaijan’s agenda regarding the return of Azerbaijanis.
During a televised election debate, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated that the issue of the return of Azerbaijanis had long been closed at the international level because those who left Armenia did so voluntarily and received compensation.
A Contradiction in the Narrative
According to Badalyan, this position appears convincing at first glance.
However, Armenian officials simultaneously argue that raising the issue of the return of Armenians from Artsakh gives Azerbaijan grounds to discuss the return of Azerbaijanis.
“If the issue is truly closed internationally, why does Yerevan continue speaking about so-called mirror rights?” the analyst asks.
In his view, these two positions contradict one another.
Why the Mirror Rights Concept Is Risky
Badalyan believes the danger lies in treating the two issues as equivalent.
He argues that once Armenian officials acknowledge that discussions about the return of Artsakh Armenians can trigger discussions about the return of Azerbaijanis, they implicitly recognize the legitimacy of that debate.
As a result, the topic re-enters the political agenda.
A Long-Term Strategy
The commentator recalls that Azerbaijani authorities have already instructed state institutions and research centers to actively promote the issue of returning Azerbaijanis on international platforms.
In his assessment, this should not be viewed solely as a question of physical resettlement.
Instead, it represents a broader strategy aimed at building political and legal legitimacy before advancing more concrete demands.
Lessons From Previous Negotiations
Badalyan argues that similar approaches have been used in other areas of Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations.
According to him, issues that initially appeared politically unacceptable gradually gained legitimacy and eventually became part of the official agenda.
For this reason, he believes the current discussion deserves careful attention.
Potential Future Scenarios
The analyst suggests that Azerbaijan could eventually declare support for the return of Artsakh Armenians as Azerbaijani citizens while simultaneously promoting the settlement of Azerbaijanis in Armenia under Armenian citizenship.
In his view, the demographic and political capacities of the two sides are not comparable.
Therefore, he believes that the implications of such discussions extend beyond purely humanitarian considerations.
A Strategic Challenge
Badalyan concludes that the issue should be evaluated through the lens of long-term state interests.
He argues that once the concept of mirror rights becomes established in political discourse, Azerbaijan may attempt to transform it into a practical political agenda in future negotiations.