Aliyev administration coordinating `Western Azerbaijan` narratives 

ArmInfo. Azerbaijan has launched a campaign centered around the concept of "Western Azerbaijan"-a term that refers to part or all of the Republic of  Armenia- a discourse that is closely coordinated and supported by the  Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, despite being led by the  "Western Azerbaijan Community" (WAC). OC Media reports.

According to the source, leaked documents reveal how the Azerbaijani  Presidential Administration coordinated and financed the  international dissemination of the "Western Azerbaijan" narrative-a  campaign that lays the groundwork for potential claims to Armenian  territory.

Leaked documents from the Azerbaijani government show that the  Azerbaijani Presidential Administration directly financed and  controlled the campaign, organizing conferences, hiring  communications consultants, and releasing informational materials.  The names, dates, and contracts in the files match publicly available  documents.

The central event was the prestigious international conference  "Ensuring the Safe and Dignified Return of Azerbaijanis Expelled from  Armenia: Global Context and a Just Solution," held in Baku on  December 5-6, 2023. Azerbaijani state funds-$65,000-covered hotel  accommodations, audiovisual production, branding, and the creation of  a digital platform to disseminate content promoting return. At least  34 international participants from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East  attended the event. Guests included scholars from Italian and Greek  universities, analysts from Russian institutions, and a  representative and former adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin  from Donetsk.

Just a few days before the conference, the Center for Strategic  Communications, a state-funded public association, received a  contract to upload content to the state portal "Virtual Western  Azerbaijan." The Center's goal: to ensure the dissemination of the  conference's discussions and conclusions through international media  channels. The organizers deemed the event a success and will hold a  similar event next year. Many participants returned, and they were  joined by new representatives from Western universities and media.

In October 2022, the Azerbaijani parliament created a working group  to develop a policy for the return of "Western Azerbaijan."

Just weeks after the blockade of the Lachin corridor in  Nagorno-Karabakh began in late 2022, Azerbaijani President Ilham  Aliyev called Armenia "historically Azerbaijani land."

By January 2025, he called Armenia a "fascist state," adding that  fascism must be eradicated. He stated that either the Armenian  leadership would destroy it, or Azerbaijan would do so.

However, following the US-brokered summit in Washington on August 8,  2025, at which the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed but  did not sign a draft peace treaty, the rhetoric of "Western  Azerbaijan" softened. The agreement includes a clause prohibiting  territorial claims by both sides, as well as a clause on the  withdrawal of mutual claims in international courts, including the  issue of the right of return of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. But  this debate has not completely disappeared. When unverified news  about the dissolution of the parliamentary group appeared in  Azerbaijani opposition media in August, the Supreme Arbitration Court  issued a denial, accusing Armenia of fabricating the information  without presenting any evidence.

In early October, Azerbaijan financed the publication of the book  "Western Azerbaijan," and during the OSCE conference in Warsaw,  Azerbaijan organized a side event dedicated to this topic. Later, an  event on this topic was also organized in Germany to raise awareness  "about Western Azerbaijan." A similar event was organized in  Brussels. According to Azerbaijani state media, more than 120 people  participated.

On October 26, ruling party MP Aziz Alakbarli noted that Armenia "has  no choice but to reckon with Azerbaijan and its president," otherwise  it could "threaten the existence of the Armenian state."

He concluded by stating that to prevent this, Armenia must accept all  of Azerbaijan's conditions, including ensuring the "return of the  Western Azerbaijani community."