INTERVIEW: Azerbaijani Intolerance Endangers Armenians and International Critics as U.S. COP29 Delegates Face Attacks in Baku

Tatevik Hayrapetyan, a historian, expert in Azerbaijani studies, and former MP shed light on the alarming hostility faced by U.S. lawmakers during their recent visit to Baku for the COP29 climate summit. In an interview with The Armenian Report, she emphasized how the Azerbaijani government targeted Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), demonstrating a deep-seated intolerance toward those who criticize Azerbaijan's policies on Armenians.

Congressman Pallone, part of the U.S. delegation to COP29, endured intense aggression from Azerbaijani media and state-backed organizations. “If it hadn’t been for the security provided by the embassy, I would have ended up in the hospital,” Pallone recounted after leaving Baku. Senator Markey also faced attacks, particularly during his speech, which addressed Azerbaijan’s human rights violations and territorial claims against Armenia.

The hostility is emblematic of Azerbaijan's broader state-sponsored intolerance, Hayrapetyan argued. “When I say that Azerbaijan is propagating hatred toward Armenians at the level of state leadership, I mean it,” she said. According to her, Azerbaijan’s leadership, under President Ilham Aliyev, has only intensified its anti-Armenian rhetoric and policies since the 2020 war over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Hayrapetyan pointed out that Azerbaijan’s leadership openly refers to Armenia as "Western Azerbaijan," signaling its territorial ambitions. This rhetoric extends to international platforms, as evidenced during COP29, where Aliyev attempted to justify Azerbaijan’s aggression in Nagorno-Karabakh. She criticized the Azerbaijani government for using the climate summit to deflect from its human rights abuses.

“When a U.S. congressman and senator began speaking the truth, it enraged Aliyev,” Hayrapetyan noted. Instead of directly addressing the issues raised by Pallone and Markey, Aliyev orchestrated a smear campaign through media outlets and state-affiliated NGOs. These efforts backfired, exposing Azerbaijan’s systematic propagation of hatred and its oppressive environment for critics, both domestic and international.

Hayrapetyan emphasized that the targeting of U.S. lawmakers shows the peril faced by Armenians detained in Azerbaijan. The fate of Armenian prisoners of war and detainees remains a pressing concern. “The intolerant treatment of U.S. lawmakers is yet another indicator that illegally detained Armenians are in grave danger in Baku,” she warned.

She urged the international community, particularly the United States, to adopt a consistent and firm stance on Azerbaijan’s actions. “Active efforts must be made across all platforms to secure the release of Armenian detainees,” she said.

The treatment of Pallone and Markey during COP29 sheds light on the challenges of addressing Azerbaijan’s human rights record. Despite international condemnation, the Aliyev regime continues to suppress dissent, target Armenians, and undermine regional peace efforts. Hayrapetyan’s remarks show the need for accountability and stronger advocacy to protect those affected by Azerbaijan’s actions.

As the U.S. considers its next steps, Hayrapetyan’s message is clear: Azerbaijan’s aggression and state-sponsored hatred must not go unchecked. Active engagement is necessary to secure justice for Armenian detainees and ensure lasting peace in the region.