Azerbaijan criticizes Russia's TASS news agency for utilizing the separatist label for Khankendi instead of the official name.
The city of Khankendi, serving as the administrative centre of the region of Karabakh, remains a sensitive issue for Azerbaijan. The city, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, was for years controlled by Armenian separatists. However, Russia's state news agency TASS continues to refer to the city as "Stepanakert," a name that Azerbaijan firmly rejects.
The name "Stepanakert" was imposed in 1923 by Soviet authorities to honour Armenian Bolshevik Stepan Shahumyan, a figure associated in Azerbaijani historical memory with massacres against Azerbaijanis. Azerbaijan views this renaming as unlawful on historically Azerbaijani lands. The restoration and use of "Khankendi" since 1991 is regarded not just as decommunization but as a reaffirmation of the country's sovereignty over the city and region.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Aykhan Hajizada, has found the terminology used by TASS to be "unacceptable" and an act of disregard for Azerbaijan's sovereignty. Hajizada calls the naming practice a direct disrespect to Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. The Azerbaijani government has previously urged TASS to issue a formal apology and correct the terminology in its original report.
The regaining of full control over the region following the 2020 and 2023 military operations has strengthened Azerbaijan's stance on the matter. Azerbaijan views "Khankendi" as a symbol of its territorial integrity and sovereignty. If no correction is made, legal steps may still be taken under domestic law concerning TASS's operations in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan reserves the right to take reciprocal measures if such actions persist.
This dispute over the city's name has intensified tensions, with Azerbaijan officially condemning such instances as an insult. Azerbaijan also protests cultural acts tied to the Armenian and Soviet legacy, asserting its stance on protecting its territorial and cultural sovereignty in the area.
In a recent development, Baku could potentially start using historical names for locations inside Russia in official discourse, a move that could escalate the ongoing dispute further. However, the focus remains on resolving the issue peacefully and respecting each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- The Azerbaijani government, having regained full control over the region of Karabakh, views the use of "Stepanakert" by Russia's state news agency TASS as a disregard for Azerbaijan's sovereignty and an act of disrespect towards the country's territorial integrity.
- The dispute over the name of the city of Khankendi, administrative center of Karabakh, has intensified political tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia, with Azerbaijan condemning such instances as an insult and asserting its stance on protecting its territorial and cultural sovereignty in the area.
- As a response to the ongoing name dispute, Azerbaijan is considering the possibility of using historical names for locations inside Russia in official discourse, a move that could potentially escalate the disagreement further, emphasizing the need for peaceful resolution and respect for each other's territorial integrity.
