Baku criticizes Kremlin aide Medinsky over remarks on Karabakh conflict

Azerbaijan on Monday condemned remarks made by Vladimir Medinsky, aide to the President of Russia, over his comments on the former Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, accusing him of distorting facts and misrepresenting the status of the Karabakh region.

In an interview with Russia Today on June 9, Medinsky referred to Karabakh as a "disputed territory," a claim that Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry called "regrettable and surprising."

"It is astonishing that someone who not only serves as the Russian President’s aide but also heads the Interdepartmental Commission for Historical Education is unaware that Karabakh has never been a disputed territory," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aykhan Hajizada said in a statement.

He emphasized that Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan, a fact recognized by Russia itself.

Hajizada also questioned whether Medinsky, whose country was a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, either misunderstands or deliberately ignores his government’s long-standing position.

He criticized the Kremlin aide for comparing the Russia-Ukraine war to the situation in Karabakh, calling the analogy “inappropriate,” as Azerbaijan "has never violated the territorial integrity of any country, nor launched an aggressive war."

Hajizada noted that Azerbaijan’s 2020 and 2023 military operations were conducted on its own internationally recognized territory and resulted in full restoration of sovereignty in accordance with international law.

“We recommend that Mr. Medinsky refrain from making misleading statements on matters outside his competence, which can damage inter-state relations,” Hajizada added.