Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Narrative Fuels New Tensions with Armenia

A festival in Baku titled “The Heritage of Western Azerbaijan: Return to Historical Roots” was organized under President Ilham Aliyev’s patronage. Lawmakers, local officials and public figures attended, and images showed maps that incorporated the internationally recognised territory of the Republic of Armenia as part of “Western Azerbaijan.” In a parallel event, Azerbaijan’s state news agency AzerTag broadcast a live video link to Yerevan, presenting Armenia’s capital as Azerbaijani land and displaying participants before a screen that framed the streets of Yerevan as part of a historic homeland.

Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against ArmeniaAnalyst Warns of Threat From Azerbaijan’s ‘Western Azerbaijan’ Narrative; Pashinyan Downplays It

The term “Western Azerbaijan” has entered Azerbaijani official discourse since late 2022, after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ended. Azerbaijani officials have increasingly used the phrase to describe present-day Armenian territory, framing it as a cultural-heritage issue while critics view it as a revisionist territorial claim. The recent festival and AzerTag broadcast illustrate the concept’s shift from historical narrative to a visible political instrument.

Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against ArmeniaAnalyst Warns of Threat From Azerbaijan’s ‘Western Azerbaijan’ Narrative; Pashinyan Downplays It

• Ilham Aliyev – President of Azerbaijan, patron of the Baku festival.

Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against Armenia

• Emin Amrullayev – Minister of Science and Education, described the issue as having “strategic importance.”

Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against Armenia

• Nikol Pashinyan – Prime Minister of Armenia, downplays the narrative as “mirror reactions.”

Analyst Warns of Threat From Azerbaijan’s ‘Western Azerbaijan’ Narrative; Pashinyan Downplays It

• Tatevik Hayrapetyan – Armenian analyst, vocal critic of the Azerbaijani campaign.

Analyst Warns of Threat From Azerbaijan’s ‘Western Azerbaijan’ Narrative; Pashinyan Downplays It

• AzerTag – Azerbaijan’s state news agency that publicised the Nakhichevan event.

Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against Armenia

• The Azerbaijani narrative references the potential return of 300,000 Azerbaijanis to Armenia, a figure Pashinyan labelled a “non-existent issue.”

Analyst Warns of Threat From Azerbaijan’s ‘Western Azerbaijan’ Narrative; Pashinyan Downplays It

• The Baku festival gathered multiple lawmakers, local officials and public figures; exact attendance numbers were not disclosed.

Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against Armenia

Prime Minister Pashinyan told reporters that the “Western Azerbaijan” discussion is a series of “mirror reactions” to Armenian nationalist symbolism, such as Karabakh flags displayed in public institutions. He argued that as long as his government pursues its current peace agenda, the debate has no practical political significance. Azerbaijan’s Minister of Science and Education, Emin Amrullayev, characterised the “Western Azerbaijan” issue as having “strategic importance.”

Analyst Warns of Threat From Azerbaijan’s ‘Western Azerbaijan’ Narrative; Pashinyan Downplays ItAzerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against Armenia

Armenian analyst Tatevik Hayrapetyan contends that the Azerbaijani campaign extends beyond cultural remembrance to an “expansionist doctrine” aimed at Armenia. She warned that the state-backed narrative is a “dangerous territorial agenda” and a “moral and psychological campaign” that lacks an effective Armenian response. Pashinyan also accused opposition groups in Armenia of trying to introduce the alleged return of 300,000 Azerbaijanis as a political issue, which he described as fictitious.

Analyst Warns of Threat From Azerbaijan’s ‘Western Azerbaijan’ Narrative; Pashinyan Downplays ItAzerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against Armenia

The claim of 300,000 Azerbaijanis potentially returning to Armenia is presented by Armenian officials as a “non-existent issue,” while no Azerbaijani source in the provided material confirms or quantifies such a plan. Additionally, the precise policy objectives behind the “strategic importance” label remain undefined, leaving a gap in public understanding of Azerbaijan’s long-term intentions.

Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against Armenia

• “While expansionist plans against Armenia are being developed in our neighborhood, our country is busy fighting imaginary demons,” — Tatevik Hayrapetyan, Armenian analyst

Analyst Warns of Threat From Azerbaijan’s ‘Western Azerbaijan’ Narrative; Pashinyan Downplays It

• “As long as that rhetoric continues in the Republic of Armenia, there will be a mirror continuation of it,” — Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia

Analyst Warns of Threat From Azerbaijan’s ‘Western Azerbaijan’ Narrative; Pashinyan Downplays It

• “Azerbaijan is not only advancing a dangerous territorial agenda but also conducting a moral and psychological campaign against Armenia,” — Tatevik Hayrapetyan

Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against Armenia

• “The message is being repeated every day,” — Tatevik Hayrapetyan

Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against Armenia

• “An expansionist doctrine directed against the Republic of Armenia is being developed and promoted, yet there is no effective response to counter it.” — Tatevik Hayrapetyan

Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against Armenia

• “strategic importance,” — Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education

Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against Armenia

The promotion of “Western Azerbaijan” adds a symbolic layer to the already fragile Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process. By framing Armenian territory as historic Azerbaijani land, Baku creates a narrative that could be leveraged in future diplomatic negotiations or public discourse, potentially complicating confidence-building measures and increasing the risk of rhetorical escalation.

Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against ArmeniaAnalyst Warns of Threat From Azerbaijan’s ‘Western Azerbaijan’ Narrative; Pashinyan Downplays It

Armenian and Azerbaijani officials have indicated that the “Western Azerbaijan” issue will not be placed on the bilateral agenda, but monitoring of related cultural events and media campaigns is expected as both sides continue broader negotiations aimed at normalising relations after the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” Festival Raises Concerns Over Territorial Claims Against Armenia