The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's statement, calling it provocative and a distortion of historical facts. Speaking on the anniversary of the 1915 events, Mamdani linked the killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire to modern-day events, accusing Azerbaijan and Turkey of attacking Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 and "expelling" more than 100,000 people in 2023.
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ayhan Hajizade called Mamdani's statements disinformation and called for accountability.
"We reject your provocative statement," Hajizade said, adding that such words demonstrate "an insufficient understanding of the history and realities of the region." He emphasized that Azerbaijan's actions in 2020 and 2023 were aimed at restoring constitutional order in internationally recognized territories after 30 years of occupation, and Armenian residents were offered reintegration.
Hajizade expressed particular concern that the "elected official" is ignoring the "ethnic cleansing and massacres" against Azerbaijanis and the destruction of their cultural heritage, promoting "one-sided narratives." He called for the immediate removal of unacceptable statements.
Earlier, Zohran Mamdani published a statement accusing Azerbaijan of "continuing its genocidal campaign" and "expelling" more than 100,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023.
