Western Azerbaijan Community Condemns Armenia’s Classification of Return Efforts as Security Risk

Baku, The Gulf Observer: The Western Azerbaijan Community has strongly condemned the recent categorization of the issue of Western Azerbaijan as a military-political risk by Armenia’s Foreign Intelligence Service in its annual report published on January 23, 2025.

According to the statement from the Community, the inclusion of the efforts by Western Azerbaijanis, who have endured ethnic cleansing, to peacefully return to their homeland within the framework of international law, as a security threat is a distortion of a legitimate cause. The Community emphasized that such an approach by Armenia reflects a broader pattern of denial, where multi-ethnicity is perceived as a threat, and underlines Armenia’s continuation of its long-standing racist policies.

“The categorization of the return of Western Azerbaijanis as a security risk not only misrepresents their peaceful and lawful efforts but also highlights Armenia’s failure to embrace multi-ethnicity and respect the rights of all its people,” the statement noted.

The Western Azerbaijan Community urged the Armenian government to respect the right of return for Western Azerbaijanis, ensuring their right to return in safety, dignity, and peace, as outlined under international law. The Community reiterated its firm stance against the racist policies of the Armenian government and called for immediate steps to rectify the situation and facilitate the return of displaced persons.