Armenia ‘must’ respect Azerbaijanis’ right to ‘return to their ancestral lands’, says Aliyev

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that Armenia “must” respect the right of Azerbaijanis “to return to their ancestral lands”. He made these remarks during the International Symposium of Ombudsmen held in Baku.

“This is an important condition for ensuring peace, reconciliation and human rights in the region,” Aliyev said.

In late 2024, during an interview with Russian media, Aliyev said that approximately 300,000 Azerbaijanis had officially applied to the Armenian leadership with a request to create conditions for their return and reintegration. According to him, these individuals are Azerbaijanis who left Armenia in the 1980s and 1990s.