While Armenia is abandoning memories of Artsakh, Baku is promoting the program of the destruction of Armenia at the state level. Surenyants

While war is being declared at the highest level in Armenia against Artsakh and its historical memory, a program aimed at the destruction of the Republic of Armenia is being promoted at the state level in Baku. Political scientist Suren Surenyants wrote about this on his Facebook page.

“The “No to Western Azerbaijan” movement presents a comprehensive analysis.

“WESTERN AZERBAIJAN” - A PROJECT FOR THE ANCLUSION OF ARMENIA

Documents, facts, meeting minutes and lists of people involved: we reveal the mechanism of one of the most cynical territorial projects of the 21st century. While the world thinks that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is over, Baku has launched a program aimed at the destruction of the Republic of Armenia as a state. And this is not rhetoric.

FATHERS’ “GLASSES” AND SPECIAL SERVICES’ METHODS

In the spring of 2025, Gulyaray Gadirbekova Street in the center of Baku was renamed after Mirza Kadir Irevani, at the initiative of the “Western Azerbaijan Community” (WAC).

The official statement stated: “It is of particular symbolic significance to name the street where the Western Azerbaijan Community is located after an artist who lived and created in Irevan, one of the important cultural centers of Western Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people.”

With this formulation, Yerevan and the entire territory of Armenia are presented as “Azerbaijani historical lands.” This narrative is systematically disseminated on international platforms.

Inside the building, Heydar Aliyev’s 1998 speeches are displayed, in which he stated that Azerbaijanis lived in the territory of present-day Armenia. At the time, this was perceived as propaganda rhetoric, but later it became the basis of a strategy.

Heydar Aliyev, who had worked for many years in the Soviet security system and headed the KGB of the Azerbaijani SSR, had already instructed historians in the 1990s to collect “evidence” to substantiate that Armenians were “invaders.”

Since 2023, these ideas have already been introduced into the educational system: in textbooks, Armenia is presented as “Western Azerbaijan.”

THE MAIN STAGE OF “VICTORY”

Ilham Aliyev turned this ideology into a state strategy.

In 2022, he announced that victory in Karabakh was only the first stage, which should be followed by “restoration” and “return to Western Azerbaijan.”

According to sources, Aliyev personally controls the activities of the WAC. He participates in events and thereby demonstrates that the structure is part of state policy.

Although WAC is formally an NGO, it is funded from state sources, including the presidential fund. According to various sources, more than 100,000 manats were allocated for one event alone.

FORMATION OF THE STRUCTURE

On August 3, 2022, the “Western Azerbaijan Community” was officially established.

On January 26, 2023, the “Concept of Return” was adopted, in which Armenia is presented as a “territory of Azerbaijanis’ residence.” The document also mentions the need for an international mission, including a force component.

OPERATION “UN”On February 22, 2023, this concept was presented at the UN and became an official document of circulation.

With this, the term "Western Azerbaijan" entered the international diplomatic language.

In 2024, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov announced at the UN the "right of return of 300 thousand Azerbaijanis."

CULTURAL FRONT

WAC actively appeals to UNESCO, claiming that "Azerbaijani heritage" is being destroyed in Armenia.

According to experts, this mechanism can be used to create the basis for international intervention.

THE FACES OF "WESTERN AZERBAIJAN"

A number of key figures are involved in the implementation of this project:

Aziz Alakbarli - community chairman, MP. He is considered one of the main coordinators of the project and has ties with regional countries.

Hikmet Babaoglu - Vice President, works in the European direction, trying to present the project as a "human rights issue".

Misir Mardanov - Chairman of the Council, former minister. In his biography, he indicates his birthplace as "Western Azerbaijan", which indicates the state sponsorship of this project.

Elkhan Huseynov - Responsible for the scientific direction, forms the "academic basis" of the ideology.

Jabi Bahramov - Historian, makes the most harsh statements, questioning the legitimacy of Armenian statehood.

Ramiz Mehdiyev - Former high-ranking official, reportedly involved in closed sections of the project, including the formation of property claims.

Nazim Mustafa - Historian, is engaged in the formation of historical narratives.

International support for the project is also provided by representatives of different countries from the political, academic and public spheres.

MEDIA MACHINE

A complete media system has been created in Azerbaijan:

• “Qərbi Azərbaycan TV” channel

• TV series on state television

• Documentaries that present Armenia as “Western Azerbaijan”

These products are also distributed on international platforms.

EDUCATIONAL POLICY

Since 2023, Armenia has been presented as “Western Azerbaijan” in Azerbaijani textbooks.

The textbooks state that Armenia was created “on Azerbaijani lands,” and history is presented accordingly.

“Maps have been redrawn, and the “Armenia” section is often replaced with the wording “Western Azerbaijan.”

We have studied numerous documents, connections, and processes.

The conclusion is clear:

The concept of “Western Azerbaijan” is no longer just rhetoric. It is a multi-layered political, informational, and diplomatic strategy.

First, the names are changed.

Then history.

And finally, borders may change.

The question remains open: will a government be formed in Armenia that will resist Baku's aggressive ambitions, will the international community respond in time, or will the processes enter an irreversible phase," Surenyants wrote.