Aliyev's Appetite is Now Extending Across All of Syunik: Azerbaijani Expert

Ilham Aliyev delivered a speech from occupied Shushi on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his father, Heydar Aliyev. Azerbaijani expert Tatevik Hayrapetyan made a post on her Telegram channel, summarizing the key points of his speech with verbatim quotes:

“The disasters of the Azerbaijani people began after Heydar Aliyev was removed from power. Had he remained in power, Armenian nationalists could not have taken such dirty steps against our state. Armenian nationalists united with the corrupt authorities of Azerbaijan at that time against Heydar Aliyev. Shushi was lost in May 1992 as a result of state treachery. The Popular Front-Mussavat duo handed over Shushi to come to power. Since May 2, foundations have been laid for 10 villages in Nagorno-Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. The greatest desire of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev was to see Shushi, Karabakh, and Zangezur liberated.

We have raised young people capable of putting the mountain on top of the mountain, and they actually did it. We have nurtured a young generation that, demonstrating high moral and physical qualities, liberated lands occupied for years and almost with light arms freed an impregnable fortress like Shushi. We depend on no one and do not interfere in anyone's affairs. But we will not allow anyone to poke their noses into our affairs—be they political issues, relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, or the question of Karabakh, which is an inseparable part of Azerbaijan. We have not allowed anyone and we will not allow anyone. For this, we have the will and strength. We are reconstructing Karabakh and Zangezur again.

The second Nagorno-Karabakh war is our historic victory. This must be presented in our textbooks, in history, as a heroic epic. Azerbaijan is a democratic country, and people live freely in Azerbaijan. There are countries where representatives of other peoples cannot live. For example, Armenia. Armenia, whose population is 99.9% comprised of Armenians. This fact demonstrates the fascist policy of that country. However, there was a time when the majority of the current population of Armenia were Azerbaijanis and representatives of other nationalities.”

In addition to his characteristic statements in this speech, the following expression is noteworthy: 'Karabakh and Zangezur,' previously often said as 'Karabakh and Western Zangezur,' now his appetite is extending across all of Syunik. This speech should be classified as an encroachment on the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia. And to Aliyev, who accuses us of fascism, we should remind him of his numerous anti-Armenian statements and the act of glorifying Safarov,” Hayrapetyan wrote.