Monitoring group says Azerbaijani narratives continue denial of Armenian historical presence

Azerbaijani official and semi-official information platforms continue to systematically deny the Armenian historical presence in the region, as well as established academic research and internationally recognized historical evidence, according to a report by the cultural heritage monitoring group Monument Watch.

The report focuses on a program aired by Western Azerbaijan Television featuring presentations titled “Ancient Texts and Classical Sources Reveal Armenian Falsifications and Fabrications” and “Proto-Turkic Tribes of Ancient Turan and Asia Minor and Their Connections to the Caucasus.” Participants included representatives of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Education, state universities and other government-affiliated institutions.

According to Monument Watch, discussions centered on Azerbaijani history, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. The broadcast, titled “There Is No Place for Armenian Lies in Azerbaijan’s New History,” framed its discussions around what speakers described as efforts to correct a historically “distorted” narrative and promote Azerbaijan’s interpretation of history more actively on international platforms.

Speakers repeatedly referred to “historical facts,” “truth” and the “exposure of falsifications,” the report said. Artsakh was presented exclusively as Azerbaijani historical territory, with participants arguing that the postwar period had ushered in a new phase for Azerbaijani society.

The broadcast also addressed cultural and religious monuments, with speakers discussing how such heritage should be interpreted and presented within an Azerbaijani historical framework.

Several participants emphasized what they described as an ongoing “information struggle,” calling for the production of books, academic studies, articles and media content to expand the reach of Azerbaijan’s historical narrative internationally.

Monument Watch highlighted remarks by Aziz Alakbarli, a member of the Azerbaijani parliament’s Committee on Science and Education and chairman of the Western Azerbaijan Community, as particularly significant.

“Azerbaijan is reclaiming ownership of its history, relearning it and rewriting it,” Alakbarli said. “There is no place in this history for Armenian lies or Armenian fabrications. Moreover, there is no place in this history and geography for any Armenian.”

According to Monument Watch, statements of the kind reflect broader political messaging that continues alongside ongoing peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The organization argued that such seminars demonstrate the persistence of narratives within Azerbaijan’s official and semi-official information space that deny Armenian historical presence and challenge established academic findings. It added that, against the backdrop of peace talks and discussions about regional stability, such rhetoric risks deepening mistrust and reinforcing hostile narratives that contribute to continued tensions in the region.