Supporting the army
Leaders of ethnic communities in Azerbaijan issue a statement on the provocations of Armenia
The Baku International Multiculturalism Centre has received a statement signed by the leaders of ethnic communities living the Republic of Azerbaijan. We present the text herein:
On September 27, Armenia resorted to yet another military aggression, grossly violating the ceasefire regime, firing large-calibre weapons and artillery at the positions and settlements of the Azerbaijani Army along the contact line. The retaliation operations by Azerbaijan have made the enemy suffer great losses, however the cunning enemy has resorted to one more political-ideological provocation. They have spread ugly information that representatives of various nations are allegedly forced to join military operations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
We know very well that the centuries-long unwavering friendship and brotherhood among the various peoples in Azerbaijan, their solidarity for their single and indivisible homeland, have always been a source for jealousy and irritation in racist Armenia, which has turned into a monoethnic state with absurd claims. One of the fortes of our Motherland Azerbaijan is its ethnic diversity and the historical unity and brotherhood among its peoples. There are thousands of representatives, soldiers, and officers, of all ethnicities living in Azerbaijan, now serving in the ranks of the Azerbaijan National Army. Since the beginning of the conflict, terrorist Armenia and its patrons have tried to disrupt the relations between the peoples of Azerbaijan, stirring artificial conflicts on ethnic and religious grounds. They are continuing their destructive activities. Yet, all their dirty and immoral games fail as usual. The provocation attempts by Armenia, aimed at causing additional tension for our state, further strengthened our ranks, making the bonds of brotherhood that bind us together more unbreakable. Armenia’s venture at introducing itself as a ‘friend and protector’ of people living in Azerbaijan is nothing short of hypocrisy.
We strongly condemn Armenia’s ugly slander campaign and declare once and for all: The invader and puppet Armenia must comprehend that all peoples of Azerbaijan have never stayed out of the battles for the restoration of the territorial integrity of our Motherland, the liberation of our lands from the enemy and the return of our internally displaced persons to their ancestral lands, the historical lands of Azerbaijan.
Regardless of our ethnic and religious affiliation, we do not ask about the ethnicity of Azerbaijani soldiers as we rejoice at their successes on the battlefields and shed tears for our martyrs. We sincerely believe that the brave Azerbaijani army will soon wave our tricolour flag in Shusha and Khankendi, avenge our martyrs, and deliver us the happy news of glorious victory over the enemy. Their nationality, language, and faith they belong to do not matter, because Azerbaijan is our Motherland, and the Republic of Azerbaijan is our state. Every inch of its land is sacred and dear to all people of Azerbaijan. Victory is ours!
The statement was signed by:
Imamverdi Hamidov
Head of Talysh community,
Ehmede Hepo
Head of the Kurdish community,
Imran Rzayev
‘Samur’ Lezgi National Centre,
Muhammad Nooyev
Chairman of Azerbaijan-Avar Public Union,
Mikhail Zabelin
Russian Community in Azerbaijan,
Elman Ahmadov
The Tat Cultural Centre ‘Azeri’,
Milik Yevdayev
Azerbaijan’s Mountainous Jews Community,
Robert Mobili
Azerbaijan Albanian-Udi Christian Community,
Alexander Sharovsky
Community of European Jews in Baku,
Rafig Abdullayev
‘Buduq’ Charity Society,
Guljan Miasautova
Tugan Tel Tatar Cultural Society,
Ismayil Rahimov
Vatan Public Union of Ahiska Turks living in Azerbaijan,
Sevinj Bulajova
Ingiloy Community,
Rafael Gvaladze
Georgian Community in Azerbaijan.