We Demand the Withdrawal of Russian Soldiers from Nagorno-Karabakh, Let Turk Replace Them: Protest

On Wednesday, a group of members from the Azerbaijani "Popular Movement" civic organization held a protest in front of the Russian embassy in Baku. This was reported by turan.az.

The action coincided with the anniversary of the 11th Red Army's incorporation of Azerbaijan into the Soviet Union. Participants raised banners reading: "We demand the withdrawal of Russian troops from Azerbaijan." Police confiscated the banners from participants and removed them from the premises.

“We demand the withdrawal of Russians from Nagorno-Karabakh; they are not peacekeepers, let them be replaced by Turkish soldiers,” said one of the protesters.

“How can Russian troops be considered peacekeepers if they fired Iskander missiles towards Shusha? They should leave,” stated another participant.

The organizers have circulated a resolution regarding the protest in the media, stating that the "Popular Movement" considers the presence of Russian soldiers a violation of Azerbaijan's sovereignty. “These soldiers are not engaged in peacekeeping in Nagorno-Karabakh; they do whatever they want. This is all contrary to Azerbaijan's interests,” the resolution stated.

The "Popular Movement" was founded in 2019 by the former Minister of Internal Affairs, Iskander Hamidov. This organization includes various NGOs and several political parties.