A bust of Armenian-origin artist Ivan Aivazovsky (Hovhannes Aivazian) was installed on Azerbaijani territory without Baku’s consent—an act made possible by Russian peacekeepers. This move is deemed illegal and interpreted as a sign of Russia’s disrespect for the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
This was stated by Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizade in response to comments made by Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of Russia, regarding the dismantling of the Aivazovsky bust. Hajizade also criticized the Russian news agency TASS for once again referring to the Azerbaijani city of Khankendi as “Stepanakert.”
According to Hajizade, the removal of such so-called monuments, erected during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, is a logical, justified, and lawful step.
“Mr. Shvydkoy’s claims about a supposed ‘cancellation of Russian culture’ in Azerbaijan are yet another falsehood. Despite the clear imbalance in cultural relations between the two countries, Russian culture has not been canceled in Azerbaijan. We have a functioning Russian theater, Russian-language schools, and publications. Meanwhile, in Russia, there are no theaters, schools, or media outlets in the Azerbaijani language. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan does not accuse Russia of ‘canceling’ Azerbaijani culture. However, Russian officials must understand that if anti-Azerbaijani statements and actions continue, this imbalance may be reconsidered,” Hajizade stressed.
He also expressed regret that Mr. Shvydkoy, who recently visited Shusha, did not find the courage to condemn acts of vandalism against monuments to Natavan, Uzeyir Hajibeyli, Bulbul, and other prominent Azerbaijani cultural figures, nor the destruction carried out in the liberated territories.
“The fact that Russia’s official state agency TASS refers to the city of Khankendi as ‘Stepanakert’ is regarded as a sign of disrespect toward Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and as an offensive step,” Hajizade added.
He reminded the Russian side that in 1923, on historically Azerbaijani lands, the name of the city Khankendi was unlawfully changed to “Stepanakert” in honor of Bolshevik Stepan Shaumyan, who, along with Dashnaks, organized massacres of Azerbaijanis. This renaming was anti-Azerbaijani from the outset.
“We expect the Russian side to stop distorting Azerbaijani toponyms and using names applied by the separatist regime. Otherwise, based on the principle of reciprocity, Azerbaijan may begin referring to several Russian localities by their original historical names.
We also expect an apology and correction from TASS. If not, appropriate measures regarding TASS’s activities in Azerbaijan will be taken in accordance with the law,” Hajizade concluded.
