Geghard: Azerbaijan needs direct  land connection with Nakhichevan  for geopolitical purposes

ArmInfo.Since the 2020 war, Baku's intentions to establish a direct land connection with Nakhichevan have become more explicit and aggressive, and they have two principal directions: external geopolitical and intra-  Azerbaijani.

As noted in a report received by ArmInfo from the Geghard Scientific  and Analytical Foundation, in particular, the route through Syunik,  Armenia, which Azerbaijan covets, serves the interests of the Aliyev  family and Azerbaijani geopolitical goals, rather than the needs of  ordinary residents of Nakhichevan for free movement.

In this vein, Geghard noted that Baku authorities, "who claim to be  concerned about the blockade" of the population of Nakhichevan, have  kept the country's land borders closed for over five years, citing  the lack of a road through Armenia. Meanwhile, as the foundation  noted, official Yerevan has repeatedly declared its readiness to  provide the necessary road through appropriate checkpoints.

"Furthermore, while before the border closure, residents of  Nakhichevan could travel to other regions of Azerbaijan through  Turkey or Iran and use neighboring markets, they are now deprived of  this opportunity due to a decision made by the central government  (Azerbaijani borders remain closed under the pretext of the spread of  COVID-19 - ed.)." Geghard added.

The research and analytical foundation also touched on Baku's ongoing  anti-Armenian policy, aimed at displacing Armenians and erasing the  Armenian cultural presence in this autonomous region. The foundation  recalled that, due to these policies, by 1988 the local Armenian  population, once a majority, had dwindled to approximately 1%.  Meanwhile, as Geghard noted, the Baku authorities had kept the  autonomous region in strict isolation for many years, limiting its  ties with both the outside world and the rest of Azerbaijan, and the  issue of the "crossroads" was invariably linked to the "Artsakh  issue," which justified the blockade of both Armenia and Nakhichevan.  "And since 2013, Azerbaijan has turned this region into a major  military stronghold, concentrating units and military equipment  there. Under these conditions, the local population is viewed by the  central authorities as direct witnesses to military activity,  resulting in the residents of Nakhichevan being under increased  scrutiny by local security forces," the foundation continued.  Regarding Baku's ignoring the proposal to establish communications  with Nakhichevan via Iran, the foundation stated that this is due to  certain concerns on the part of the Azerbaijani leadership.

Furthermore, regarding Azerbaijan's actual desire to establish full  control over Nakhichevan, the foundation noted that this is necessary  to strengthen President Ilham Aliyev's political standing and to  secure additional political and economic benefits. Specifically, this  would establish communications with Turkey and Europe, control the  North-South project, destabilize the land route between Armenia and  Iran, and weaken Iranian influence overall.

Geghard also noted that due to border isolation, Nakhichevan  residents face restrictions on access to information and freedom of  movement, resulting in violations of rights and freedoms, abuses, and  violence often going unaddressed. "The concentration of Azerbaijan's  significant military presence in this autonomous region is also  linked to fears, including the possibility of a coup. Another threat  is the possible infiltration of Islamic radical groups into  Nakhichevan, something even Ilham Aliyev hinted at in justifying the  decision to close the country's land borders," the foundation added.   The Geghard Foundation also noted another reason for Nakhichevan's  isolation. Specifically, it notes that this stems from a desire to  prevent the implementation of the Turkish project and the supply of  Azerbaijani gas to Nakhichevan residents. "This, on  one hand,  keeps  more than 400,000 residents of Nakhchivan dependent on Baku for  energy, and on the other, it aims to exclude both Turkey's and  Iran'se economic and political influence in the region," the  statement explains.

Summing up, the foundation noted that, in essence, Ilham Aliyev  enforces an isolating policy over the region to safeguard his own  authority and dynastic continuity.