BAKU: Azerbaijan has vehemently denied allegations of ethnic cleansing in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, following claims made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The accusations surfaced after the enclave’s prolonged endeavor to break away from Azerbaijani rule concluded on September 20 with a decisive defeat.
Hikmet Hajiyev, diplomatic advisor to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, refuted the accusations in an interview with AFP news agency, asserting that there was no forceful action taken against civilians. He emphasized that Azerbaijan did not repeat the violence and atrocities inflicted upon its people 30 years ago by Armenia. Hajiyev emphasized that there were no ‘Armenian’ civilians in Karabakh as Azerbaijan always considered them as its own citizens.
Hajiyev explained that Azerbaijan had deployed internal security troops to coordinate with the ethnic Armenian separatists governing the enclave for the past three decades. He confirmed that discussions between Baku and the separatist leaders had been productive, focusing on disarming the enclave’s military forces.
Azerbaijan Respects Freedom and Choice of Inhabitants
In a significant development, Nagorno-Karabakh’s ethnic Armenian authorities agreed to dissolve their government, paving the way for the enclave to formally become a part of Azerbaijan by the end of the year. Talks between Baku and the separatist leaders concerning the transition are scheduled to take place in Stepanakert on Monday.
Addressing concerns raised by Armenia, Hajiyev stated that Azerbaijan had detained “five to six” individuals accused of war crimes, clarifying that civilians were free to choose their place of residence. He assured that Azerbaijan respected the freedom of movement and choice of the inhabitants.
Many residents, he noted, were opting to leave due to personal convictions about living under the flag of Azerbaijan. For those accepting Azerbaijani citizenship, their rights and security would be protected, and a local municipality system would be established to govern their affairs. The nation affirmed its commitment to ensuring religious and cultural rights for all inhabitants.
