Aliyev Defends Ethnic Cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh, Renews Demands on Armenia

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev used an international media forum in Shushi to defend his government's ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh, criticize Western institutions and repeat long-standing demands on Armenia, the United States and Europe, while ironically insisting that peace in the South Caucasus must be built on international law.

The appearance came one day after Aliyev delivered a more confrontational message during a meeting with settlers of villages in the occupied Martuni district, where he warned that Azerbaijan's "iron fist" would be used again if necessary. Around the same time, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry announced large-scale military exercises involving ground forces and drones based on lessons from the 2020 war.

Speaking at the 4th Global Media Forum, Aliyev struck a less combative tone, saying peace should be grounded in international law. His remarks came nearly three years after Azerbaijan's military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh triggered the mass displacement of more than 120,000 ethnic Armenians from the region.

Aliyev also renewed his criticism of the OSCE Minsk Group, the mediation format led by the United States, France and Russia that spent more than three decades trying to broker a settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict before it was dissolved.

He argued that international mediators had sought to preserve the status quo rather than resolve the conflict in Azerbaijan's favor.

"When the Second Karabakh War began, the leaders of the world's three major powers demanded that we stop immediately. They called us, intimidated us and threatened us. They wanted everything to remain as it was. Their goal was to prevent Azerbaijan from restoring its territories. They failed," Aliyev said.

The Azerbaijani president also criticized the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, saying his country's delegation would return only if its voting rights are restored.

PACE suspended Azerbaijan's credentials in 2024 over concerns that included the humanitarian consequences of the Lachin Corridor blockade. Azerbaijan responded by halting its participation in the assembly.

Aliyev also targeted several international figures who condemned Azerbaijan's actions during the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh. Among those he named were former U.S.

President Joe Biden, former European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and former International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo, who previously described the blockade and the forced displacement of Armenians as genocide.

"It turned out that Josep Borrell maintained ties with several corrupt individuals, including former international judge Mr. Ocampo. He was financed by a Russian-Armenian oligarch who is currently under house arrest in Armenia," Aliyev claimed, without presenting evidence.

His comments prompted a response from Narek Karapetyan, the nephew of Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, who has emerged as one of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's leading political opponents.

"Which Armenian businessman under house arrest in Armenia is Aliyev complaining about—the same one that his proxy, Pashinyan, is also complaining about?" Karapetyan wrote on social media.

Aliyev also urged Washington to repeal Section 907 of the U.S. Freedom Support Act, which restricts certain U.S. government assistance to Azerbaijan. He argued the measure has become outdated following the initialing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement.

He further claimed that Azerbaijan has removed all transit restrictions affecting Armenia and has begun exporting petroleum products to its neighbor.

"More than 10,000 tons have already been delivered," Aliyev said. "Especially now, when many countries are struggling to access fuel sources, Armenia relies on a reliable supplier such as Azerbaijan."

Armenia's official trade statistics paint a different picture. According to the Statistical Committee, Armenia has imported more than $230 million worth of petroleum products so far this year. Imports from Azerbaijan account for less than $13 million of that total.

While discussing regional transport links, Aliyev again referred to the proposed route connecting mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhijevan exclave through Armenian territory as the "Zangezur Corridor," terminology that Armenia rejects.

"We have neither existing nor potential internal risks. All risks are outside our borders," Aliyev said.

Aliyev answered questions for nearly three hours during the government-organized forum in Shushi. Throughout the event, he faced no public challenges from participants, who instead largely praised his leadership.

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