A handshake in Washington, handcuffs in Baku.

20 August 2025

OBCT

Peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan are undermined by the state’s criminalization of domestic reconciliation efforts and activists.

🔗 Read the article on balcanicaucaso.org

[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

A recent meeting in Washington between Donald Trump and the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia generated hope for a peace agreement, which was subsequently publicized. However, the article highlights a paradox: while leaders appear to reconcile internationally, those promoting peace and reconciliation within Azerbaijan are being criminalized by the authorities. The case of Bahruz Samadov, a scholar advocating for peace, exemplifies this, as he was arrested and later sentenced to a long prison term on charges of treason for his peace activism. The text argues that for the peace deal to be meaningful, Azerbaijan must support civil society and release peace advocates, rather than continuing repression, which is fueled by state propaganda portraying Armenia as an existential enemy.

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