Russia Riles Up Azerbaijan by Using Proper Name ‘Stepanakert’ for Artsakh’s Capital; Baku Demands Apology

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded a formal apology from Russia’s TASS news agency for using the proper Armenian name Stepanakert instead of the Azerbaijani made up name “Khankendi” in reporting on the destruction of a monument in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). 

The monument at the center of this controversy honored Ivan Aivazovsky, a famous sea painter of Armenian descent. Placed in Stepanakert in 2021, the statue’s demolition by Azerbaijani forces is yet another attack on the Armenian cultural heritage in the region. This act is part of a larger pattern of Azerbaijan’s aggressive campaign to erase the Armenian culture and history in Artsakh.

For Azerbaijan, insisting on the name “Khankendi” shows its claim over Artsakh as part of its sovereign territory. Meanwhile, Armenians and the local ethnic Armenian population see Stepanakert as the legitimate name of their ancestral land. 

In retaliation for the use of Stepanakert, some Azerbaijani media began calling Russian cities by their old historical names, such as Königsberg for Kaliningrad. This tit-for-tat renaming is part of the diplomatic tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia. 

These tensions have intensified between Russia and Azerbaijan in recent weeks. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has urged its citizens to think twice before traveling to Azerbaijan, as aggressive and hostile actions continue by Baku. Relations worsened further after Azerbaijan arrested several Russian journalists. Russia has also expressed frustration over limited access to its detained citizens in Azerbaijan and has warned against further provocations. Despite the ongoing hostilities, Russia says it wants to maintain good relations through dialogue. 

Russia has long played a major role in the region. Its peacekeeping mission in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), deployed after the 2020 war, was meant to stabilize the area and protect the Armenian population. However, the mission collapsed, and Russia failed to fulfill its duty to defend Armenians against Azerbaijani aggression. Despite the presence of Russian forces, Azerbaijan carried out blockades and attacks that forced all Armenians to flee the region.

Experts have mentioned that Russia’s increasing political and economic ties with Azerbaijan weakened its peacekeeping role. Moscow’s focus shifted towards its war in Ukraine, leaving the Armenian population in Artsakh exposed and vulnerable. 

The destruction of cultural monuments like the Aivazovsky statue is part of a larger pattern of Azerbaijan’s attacks on Armenians and the Christian heritage in Artsakh. These actions are deliberate attacks on the identity of the Armenian community, adding to the years of violence and forced displacement.

The international community has mostly failed to hold Azerbaijan responsible for these crimes. Without strong security guarantees and effective peacekeeping, Azerbaijan has been able to continue its actions without consequences. This failure puts Armenians in danger and creates an example for other minority groups in conflict areas around the world.

The occupation of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and the failure of Russia’s peacekeeping mission is an important lesson: peace agreements without clear enforcement and support from the world are weak and can lead to the loss of entire communities and culture.

The fight over the name Stepanakert is about more than just words. It shows a struggle for recognition, justice, and survival for Armenians in their indigenous homeland. Until these issues are properly addressed, the future of the region remains uncertain, overshadowed by past crimes and ongoing violence.

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