It is with a sense of disbelief that we witness Azerbaijan—a country notorious for its militaristic rhetoric and actions—hosting COP29, a global conference dedicated to peace, sustainability, and climate resilience.
While the Azerbaijani government seeks to project an image of cooperation and environmental stewardship, its actions over decades, mostly during and after the collapse of the Soviet Empire, stand in stark contrast to the values of peace and solidarity that underpin international climate efforts.
Only recently, in September 2020, Azerbaijan unleashed a brutal military attack (similar to Russia attack against Ukraine in 2022) on the peaceful population of Nagorno-Karabakh, followed by another military invasion of Armenia proper in 2022 ending up with the occupation of more than 200km2 of Armenia’s strategically important territories. These acts of violence and the use of force (they call it special anti-terroristic operation, similar to Russia’s special military operation) were not isolated incidents, but part of a broader anti-Armenian campaign, culminating in the ethnic cleansing and a complete removal of the indigenous Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023. This was not merely a geopolitical conflict; it was a humanitarian catastrophe, executed with precision and cruelty.
How is it that the civilized world harshly criticizes Russia for its autocratic rule, human rights abuses, and military aggression, while Azerbaijan—another autocracy with a complete disregard for basic human rights—enjoys support from the West? In Azerbaijan, dissenters are jailed for expressing anti-government views, and opposition is stifled under the watchful eye of a repressive regime. Yet, because Azerbaijan provides hydrocarbons to Western markets, it is allowed to continue unchecked. The same human rights violations that the world condemns in Russia are glaringly present in Azerbaijan, but met with silence due to economic and geopolitical interests.
For Azerbaijan now to launch a «COP29 Peace Truce» is nothing short of a cynical attempt to whitewash its atrocities. The same government that forcibly displaced tens of thousands of Armenians is now calling for a «pause» in hostilities during a climate summit. This hollow gesture comes from a regime that continues to threaten Armenia and undermine the region’s stability, with the full blessing and support of Russia.
How can the global community accept such hypocrisy? While the world grapples with climate change, we must not ignore the violent oppression that accompanies Azerbaijan’s militaristic ambitions. Hosting COP29 in Baku not only undermines the credibility of the conference, but also emboldens a regime that continues to destabilize the South Caucasus. Peace cannot be achieved through one-off «truces» or diplomatic posturing. It requires genuine accountability and respect for human rights, values that Azerbaijan has consistently violated.
As COP29 approaches, let us remember that true climate resilience cannot exist in the absence of justice and peace. Hosting this summit in Baku sends the wrong message to the world: that you can carry out ethnic cleansing, engage in military aggression, and still be granted a platform to preach about peace.
