Baku Criticizes Remarks by the New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Armenian Genocide and Artsakh.
On April 24, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on X:
“Today marks the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. As we honor the 1.5 million Armenians murdered by the Ottoman Empire across modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Armenia, we must refuse to let history repeat itself.
In 2020, the military forces of Azerbaijan and Turkey attacked the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh.
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In 2023, Azerbaijan expelled over 100,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, continuing the genocidal campaign that had begun over 100 years prior.
On this day of remembrance, we reaffirm the right of the Armenian people — and all people — to freedom, safety, and self-determination.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan condemned the statement, APA reports.
Azerbaijani MFA spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada, in particular, wrote on X:
“Public figures should act responsibly, refrain from spreading misinformation, and contribute to reconciliation rather than deepening division through politically motivated and historically false statements.
Such remarks demonstrate a lack of understanding of history and realities of the region, and distort facts for political narratives.
In 2020, Azerbaijan acted within its internationally recognized sovereign territory, in line with international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
Such reckless statements are unacceptable and should be removed.”