Screening of Azerbaijani Film on Shushi's 'Liberation' in Moscow was an Open Provocation: Armenian Embassy in Russia

The Embassy of Armenia in Russia expresses its deep disappointment regarding the screening of an Azerbaijani film narrating the supposed 'liberation' of Shushi at the All-Russian Exhibition Center (VDNH). The embassy has issued an official statement on the matter.

On November 9, the film titled 'Shusha, You Are Free' by Azerbaijani producer Arzu Aliyeva was shown at the 'Azerbaijan' pavilion of the exhibition center, which recounts the Azerbaijani military aggression against the peaceful population of Artsakh in the autumn of 2020.

'We view this action as an open provocation aimed at inciting interethnic discord and undermining the numerous efforts made in recent years to prevent further escalation of tensions between the communities of Armenia and Azerbaijan within the territory of the Russian Federation,' the statement reads.

The embassy describes this film as yet another product of Azerbaijani anti-Armenian propaganda, which not only offends the large Armenian community residing in Russia and the people of Armenia and Artsakh but also serves as a clear incitement to hatred and intolerance for Azerbaijani youth.

‘It is evident that through such actions, the Azerbaijani side is attempting to justify in the eyes of the international community the severe war crimes committed against the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh and their defenders during the 2020 war and subsequent events in 2021-2022, as well as the incidents of vandalism in the occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh,’ the embassy emphasizes.

The diplomatic mission is confident that the Azerbaijani side purposefully chose the All-Russian Exhibition Center with the intent to discredit not only the center, which promotes the ideas of friendship and cooperation among peoples, but also the country that facilitated Armenia and Azerbaijan in choosing the path toward peace and friendship.