Azerbaijan’s Hajiyev singles out Armenian Diaspora as obstacle to peace process

(Horizon Media / DUBAI) – Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev has directly singled out the Armenian Diaspora, portraying its continued political influence and advocacy as an obstacle to the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.

Speaking at a Euronews Forum panel in Dubai, Hajiyev claimed that what Baku calls “revanchist forces” in Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora “are still strong” and are seeking to undermine the peace process. He offered no specific examples of Diaspora organizations or activities that he said constituted such interference.

Hajiyev also said Armenia’s leadership should do more to “prepare their people for the peace,” while declaring that Azerbaijan had won the war and was now “winning in peace,” which he described as an “uphill struggle.”

The remarks effectively place Armenian Diaspora advocacy alongside forces Baku labels “revanchist,” at a time when Armenian communities and organizations abroad continue to raise issues including the rights of displaced Artsakh Armenians, Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan and the protection of Armenian cultural and religious heritage. Those same issues have also been raised by the European Parliament, which in 2026 reiterated calls for the right of return of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, protection of Armenian heritage and the release of Armenian detainees.

Hajiyev separately attacked the European Parliament and certain Western media outlets, calling the Parliament “part of the problem” and accusing it of undermining Baku’s vision of the regional peace agenda.