Human rights defender Dr. Ahmad Shahidov, in an interview with the respected Al Jazeera English channel, described the 8 August peace meeting between Azerbaijan and Armenia at the White House as a positive step. He also shared important views on demographic and legal issues in the region.
Responding to the host’s question, “Will hundreds of thousands of ethnic Armenians return to Karabakh?”, Dr. Ahmad Shahidov stated that the ethnic Armenian population of Karabakh is approximately 40,000 and that the Azerbaijani state is ready to ensure their safe return. He stressed that Armenians were not expelled by anyone but left voluntarily. “Even today, some Armenian families still live in Khankendi,” he added.
Dr. Ahmad Shahidov also touched upon the issue of the safe return of Western Azerbaijanis — Azerbaijanis from Zangezur and surrounding areas — to their homes. According to him, the return of Armenians to Karabakh and the return of Azerbaijanis to Zangezur should be implemented equally and fairly. “Since the Soviet era, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis have been expelled from Zangezur and its surroundings. These people have the right to return to their ancestral lands,” he said.

09 August 2025
Human rights defender Dr. Ahmad Shahidov, in an interview with the respected Al Jazeera English channel, described the 8 August peace meeting between Azerbaijan and Armenia at the White House as a positive step. He also shared important views on demographic and legal issues in the region.
Responding to the host’s question, “Will hundreds of thousands of ethnic Armenians return to Karabakh?”, Dr. Ahmad Shahidov stated that the ethnic Armenian population of Karabakh is approximately 40,000 and that the Azerbaijani state is ready to ensure their safe return. He stressed that Armenians were not expelled by anyone but left voluntarily. “Even today, some Armenian families still live in Khankendi,” he added.
Dr. Ahmad Shahidov also touched upon the issue of the safe return of Western Azerbaijanis — Azerbaijanis from Zangezur and surrounding areas — to their homes. According to him, the return of Armenians to Karabakh and the return of Azerbaijanis to Zangezur should be implemented equally and fairly. “Since the Soviet era, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis have been expelled from Zangezur and its surroundings. These people have the right to return to their ancestral lands,” he said.

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