Opening Ceremony of the 'Park' and Azerbaijani President's Speech Demonstrate Intent to Demean the Memory of Fallen Soldiers

On April 12, a 'park' dedicated to the Artsakh war was opened in Baku with the participation of the Azerbaijani president. The park features figures of Armenian armed forces personnel, alongside displays of Armenian military equipment, personal belongings of soldiers from Armenia and Artsakh, and helmets of fallen Armenian soldiers.

The opening ceremony of the 'park' and the speech given by the Azerbaijani president illustrate that this act is publicly aimed at demeaning the memory of fallen soldiers, missing persons, and captives, as well as violating the rights and dignity of their families. At a time when the consequences of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh have not been fully addressed, and many Armenian prisoners of war are held hostage in Azerbaijan, the organization of such a display wrapped in elements of victimization solidifies Azerbaijan's position as a global center of intolerance and hatred.

The inhumane actions of Azerbaijan’s high leadership speak louder than any declaration or PR actions related to peace, tolerance, and multiculturalism. On one hand, Azerbaijan's leadership raises concerns about possible revanchism from Armenia, while on the other hand, such a display attempts to monumentalize revanchism, cruelty, and ethnic hatred. These actions reveal how far Azerbaijan's leadership is from its own declarative statements regarding the post-conflict situation, regional peace, and reconciliation efforts.