Baku: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has condemned the statement of New York mayor Zohran Mamdani regarding the so-called 'Armenian genocide,' Azerbaijani MFA spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada said on X, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the post emphasized the importance of public figures acting responsibly and discouraged the spread of misinformation. It highlighted the need for reconciliation instead of deepening division through politically motivated and historically false statements. The ministry firmly rejected the mayor's statement, which it described as inflammatory and demonstrating a lack of understanding of the historical and regional realities. The statement also noted that these remarks distort facts for political narratives.

The MFA underlined that Azerbaijan's actions in 2020 were within its internationally recognized sovereign territory, aligning with international law and UN Security Council resolutions. The counter-terror measures of 2023 aimed at restoring Azerbaijan's constitutional order after three decades of illegal occupation. It refuted claims of 'expulsion,' asserting that Armenian residents were offered reintegration, full equal rights, and security guarantees.

The ministry expressed particular concern over an elected official promoting one-sided narratives while ignoring the ethnic cleansing and massacres against hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis during the occupation period, as well as the destruction of cultural and religious heritage. The statement concluded that such reckless remarks are unacceptable and should be removed without delay.