Azerbaijan Exploits COP29 for Anti-Armenian Propaganda, Historical Falsification, and Territorial Claims Against Armenia

As Armenia faces heightened tensions over its leadership’s handling of Azerbaijan’s aggression and territorial claims, Azerbaijan has seized an international platform to further its narrative. The UN Climate Conference (COP29), currently hosted in Baku, has become a stage for what critics describe as anti-Armenian propaganda, raising concerns about the misuse of global events for political purposes.

During the conference, the Azerbaijani government organized an event titled “Azerbaijani Yerevan” in the Green Zone, an area designated for side events aimed at building dialogue on sustainability and climate solutions. The event was spearheaded by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, an institution led by Azerbaijan’s first lady and vice-president, Mehriban Aliyeva, with her daughter Leila Aliyeva serving as its vice-president.

Critics argue that such an event, held under the guise of a global environmental gathering, represents a blatant attempt to rewrite history and legitimize Azerbaijan’s territorial claims against Armenia. By suggesting that Yerevan — Armenia’s capital and a historically Armenian city — has Azerbaijani roots, Baku continues its campaign of historical falsification on a state level.

“This is yet another example of Azerbaijan weaponizing international platforms to spread misinformation and make baseless territorial claims,” an Armenian analyst remarked.

While Azerbaijan uses the COP29 conference to advance its agenda, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan faces growing criticism at home and within the diaspora for what many see as a failure to adequately respond to Azerbaijan’s provocations.

Pashinyan has been accused of downplaying Azerbaijan’s aggression and territorial ambitions, with some claiming his government’s conciliatory approach emboldens Baku. 

The “Azerbaijani Yerevan” narrative is not new. Azerbaijan has long sought to distort historical facts to advance its geopolitical goals. By claiming that Yerevan and other Armenian territories historically belong to Azerbaijan, Baku aims to undermine Armenia’s sovereignty and justify its broader territorial ambitions.

Historians and experts have repeatedly debunked these claims, emphasizing the deep-rooted Armenian presence in Yerevan and the surrounding regions for millennia. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan continues to promote such narratives at the highest levels of government, with institutions like the Heydar Aliyev Foundation playing a central role in these efforts.

“This isn’t just about historical inaccuracies; it’s about laying the groundwork for further aggression,” an expert on regional geopolitics stated.

The decision to host a politically charged event like “Azerbaijani Yerevan” at a UN conference has sparked criticism from international observers. Climate conferences are intended to address urgent global environmental challenges, yet Azerbaijan’s actions at COP29 have shifted focus away from climate issues toward regional political disputes.

This misuse of a global platform has raised questions about the UN’s ability to ensure that its events remain neutral and focused on their intended purpose. “Allowing such events to take place at COP29 undermines the credibility of the conference and distracts from the urgent climate crisis,” an environmental activist noted.

The situation shows the stark contrast between Armenia’s approach to diplomacy and Azerbaijan’s aggressive use of international platforms. While Pashinyan’s government appears focused on conciliatory peace negotiations, Azerbaijan continues to exploit every opportunity to advance its territorial claims and undermine Armenia’s sovereignty.

As Azerbaijan uses COP29 to push its anti-Armenian agenda, the question remains: will Armenia rise to the challenge and defend its historical and territorial integrity, or will its silence allow Azerbaijan to shape the narrative unchallenged?

The stakes are high, not just for Armenia but for the broader region, as the lines between diplomacy, propaganda, and historical distortion become increasingly blurred on the global stage.