Azerbaijan MFA: Territorial Integrity, Including Garabagh, Never Questioned by Any Country

Baku, The Gulf Observer: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has expressed concern over recent remarks by Russian officials regarding the Garabagh region, stressing that such issues pertain strictly to Azerbaijan’s internal affairs and should not be subject to external political discourse.

In an official statement, the ministry referred to discussions following the April 1 meeting in Moscow between Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan, noting that certain public comments from the Russian side had touched upon matters concerning Azerbaijan’s sovereignty.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said it had conveyed, through diplomatic channels, its firm position on the inadmissibility of using the Garabagh region for political speculation, urging an end to such references in official statements. However, it noted that the issue continues to appear in Russia’s political discourse.

The statement specifically cited recent remarks by Dmitry Peskov, who commented in a media interview on the recognition of the Garabagh region within the context of Russian-Armenian relations.

Reaffirming its stance, Azerbaijan emphasized that the Garabagh region is an integral part of the country, grounded in historical context, international law, and principles of justice. The ministry highlighted that this position was further reinforced following the Nagorno-Karabakh War 2020 and subsequent developments in 2023.

The statement underscored that no country, including Russia, has ever officially questioned Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, including over the Garabagh region.

Calling for restraint, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry urged the Russian side to avoid raising issues related to Azerbaijan’s sovereignty in public discussions, particularly at a time when relations between Russia and Armenia remain complex.

The ministry reiterated its expectation that all matters concerning Azerbaijan’s internal affairs be respected in accordance with international norms and diplomatic principles.