‘I Studied with Aliyev’: Politician Visited Karabakh Then Banned Azerbaijan Entry

A confederation or the reunification of Karabakh and Azerbaijan is impossible, said Fair Russia party member and former deputy of the State Duma from the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Aleksey Mitrofanov in an interview with Vesti.az, who has been denied entry into Azerbaijan after visiting the unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.

– The decision by Azerbaijan’s foreign affairs ministry was unexpected for me… I don’t understand why the Azerbaijani foreign ministry reacted so sharply to my visit. I didn’t make any hostile remarks about Azerbaijan. On the contrary, all was well… Yes, I gave the people of Karabakh greetings from hundreds of thousands of sympathizers, but I don’t see anything wrong with that. There are people who sympathize with them.

And what about your call for Moscow to recognize Karabakh’s independence because “the creation of a Nagorno Karabakh–Azerbaijan federation or confederation is not possible”? You do not deny these are your words, yes?

– I don’t deny it. I said those words. But I didn’t say it to offend the Azerbaijani side. I spoke of the actual reality which, in my view, exists. A confederation or the reunification of Karabakh and Azerbaijan is impossible. You can only decide on a military solution. I said it in this sense. The mood in Karabakh is such that a confederation or reunification with Azerbaijan is simply impossible.

Whatever happens, for violating the Republic of Azerbaijan’s legislation, you are included on the “Black List.” You understand that you will not be able to visit Azerbaijan?

– I plan to appeal to the relevant authorities on this matter. I repeat: During my visit to Karabakh, I did not offend any Azerbaijani officials, nor the people of Azerbaijan, for whom, incidentally, I have great respect. I studied at the Institute together with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, although I was one year behind him. We even have friends in common.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons