The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan “strongly condemned” the burning of the Turkish flag in Yerevan, calling on the participants of the incident to be held accountable and claiming that such actions cannot be justified by freedom of speech.

Flag burning certainly cannot be considered an acceptable manifestation of political culture. However, the value component is certainly not the basis of Baku’s response.

First, the selective approach is obvious. Azerbaijan is in a hurry to condemn the action of private individuals in the capital of another country, when it carries out an act of vandalism at the state level, destroying the Cathedral of Stepanakert.

Secondly, Baku reacts to the burning of the state symbol of Turkey, not its own, not only emphasizing its alliance relations, but also trying to influence the internal agenda of Armenia, forming the “limits of what is permissible”.

This is, in fact, the political message of Baku, addressed both to the public and to the state institutions, trying to influence the internal relations and decisions of Armenia.
Just like the demand to change the Constitution.

This reaction of Baku is not only related to the burning of the flag. It is part of a broader strategy to put pressure on Armenia, shape its domestic agenda, and dictate what is “permissible” from the position of the “winner.”

Political scientist Suren Surenyants

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