Armenian political scientist: Azerbaijan planning to use the program  "to settle 300,000 Azerbaijanis in Armenia" to further occupy  Armenian territories

ArmInfo.  Azerbaijan is using its program "to settle 300,000 Azerbaijanis in Armenia" as a pretext for  further occupying Armenian territories.  This viewpoint was  expressed by Artur Khachikyan, a political scientist and Stanford  University PhD, amidst ongoing conferences in Azerbaijan discussing  the "return to Western Azerbaijan, ", i.e Armenia.  

Khachikyan noted that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is demanding that the  Armenian regime provide a clear deadline for the "return of 300,000  Azerbaijanis." In this regard, he recalled that there has never been  a single directive from Aliyev that his "ambassador" to Armenia  (Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan - ed.) has failed to implement. He  also urged the question: where exactly do the Azerbaijanis intend to  "return"?

"If we take the figure of 300,000—though some claim the number  reaches one million when including descendants—and consider that an  average Armenian village houses roughly 1,000 residents, it implies  the displacement or evacuation of approximately 300 villages. Even if  we consider only one-third of that number, we are talking about 100  villages," he emphasized.  He argued that these settlements would  likely be established in areas inhabited by Azerbaijanis prior to  their departure in 1988, specifically the regions east of Lake Sevan  and the Kapan-Gekhi sector of Syunik.  According to Khachikyan, these  locations are strategically chosen to create "compact zones" of  Azerbaijani residence.

In this regard, he noted that these specific villages would  effectively bridge the gap between mainland Azerbaijan and the  Nakhichevan exclave.  "Once established, our neighbors will  inevitably raise 'legitimate' questions: Why should these Azerbaijani  villages be severed from their compatriots by an Armenian border  'unfairly' drawn by the Bolsheviks? This 'injustice' will then be  swiftly corrected," Khachikyan cautioned.  "You may not believe me,  or anyone else. But look at the map and the facts: there was no order  from Aliyev that his 'ambassador' did not carry out. He will  definitely do so. And they demand a 'return' to Armenia and have  already formed the leadership of the 'Azerbaijani community of  Armenia.' Look at the map. Turn off the Public Television of Armenia  (PTA), come out of this hypnosis. Think about it, only your mind can  save us. We have three weeks (before the parliamentary elections in  Armenia – ed.)," Khachikyan concluded.

Concluding his analysis, Khachikyan urged the citizens of Armenia to  look beyond official state narratives ahead of the upcoming  parliamentary elections.  "Do not take my word for it; simply look at  the maps and the facts. There hasn't been an order from Aliyev that  his " ambassador" has not carried out. He will definitely do so. They  are already forming the leadership of the 'Azerbaijani Community of  Armenia.' Look at the map. Turn off the state television, come out of  this hypnosis, and think. Only your collective reason can save us. We  have three weeks left."

It's worth noting that Azerbaijan is currently promoting the "return"  of 300,000 Azerbaijanis to their homeland, Armenia. This is happening  despite the fact that, according to the 1989 Armenian census, just  over 60,000 Azerbaijanis lived in the Armenian SSR, all of whom left  Armenia voluntarily and received appropriate compensation from the  state. Meanwhile, approximately 500,000 Armenians fled Azerbaijan  naked, attempting to save themselves, leaving all their belongings  behind. However, no one speaks of them today.

Recall, Nakhichevan, before being transferred to the Azerbaijani SSR  in the early 1920s, was part of Armenia and was a region with a  predominantly Armenian population. Today, the Azerbaijani authorities  have completely erased any trace of Armenian presence in this region.  In February 2026, the preamble to the Constitution of the Nakhichevan  Autonomous Republic removed references to the fact that the  foundations of Nakhichevan's autonomy were laid by international  treaties - the Moscow Treaty of March 16, 1921 and the Kars Treaty of  October 13, 1921, which are currently in force - replacing it with  the wording that this region "is an integral part of the Republic of  Azerbaijan."