To the President of Azerbaijan
His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev
Open Appeal
Mr. President,
First of all, please allow us to sincerely congratulate you, on behalf of the 50-million-strong Azerbaijani Turkic Nation and State, on receiving the prestigious Ben Zayed Peace Award.
Today, you bear a great and historic responsibility not only as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, but also as the head of state for Azerbaijanis worldwide. This responsibility transcends political borders and encompasses the destiny of 50 million compatriots united by a common language, history, and national identity.
In recent years, within the framework of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a profoundly destructive situation has emerged in South Azerbaijan in national, political, economic, social, and environmental spheres. In particular, the deliberate drying of Lake Urmia by the Tehran government has plunged the region into a deep crisis. The regime has destroyed one of the vital lifelines of the region’s ecosystem, leading to salt storms that have severely damaged agriculture and livestock, forced thousands of local families into migration, and paved the way for changes in the demographic structure of the region.
At the same time, the systematic exploitation of the region’s natural resources and their transfer to the center, the weakening of local industry and agriculture, and the redirection of economic potential and population to other regions continue unabated. As a result, the social foundations of the region are being undermined. Furthermore, the sale of vacated lands to Kurdish nomads increases the risk of uncontrollable ethnic tensions in the future. The primary responsibility for this situation lies with the Persian ruling authorities.
As is well known, the policy of the Tehran regime has been characterized not by the pursuit of stability, but by the creation of controlled chaos. Recent mass protests, repression, and heavy human losses within Iran have once again demonstrated the severity of the situation.
Mr. President,
The South Azerbaijan National Movement is a peaceful, democratic, and modern popular movement. Despite its mass character, it lacks international support. Under conditions of repression and pressure, millions of our compatriots are forced to live in poverty, unemployment, and deprivation of basic rights.
Within this context, the key question is: in the event of possible political changes, through which mechanisms will the security and rights of millions of South Azerbaijanis be guaranteed?
In order to prevent potential humanitarian crises in the future, and without harming Azerbaijan’s existing diplomatic relations, we consider it essential to establish more systematic and humane support mechanisms in the following areas:
- Establishment of an independent television channel for compatriots living outside state borders
- Addressing the activities of armed terrorist groups threatening the western regions of South Azerbaijan as a regional security threat
- Expansion of cultural, educational, and academic ties
- Development of humanitarian and social projects
- Preparation of legal and procedural frameworks to facilitate the relocation of investors, youth, and specialists from South Azerbaijan to Northern Azerbaijan in emergency situations
Undoubtedly, this appeal is not a demand for interference in the internal affairs of any state, but a historical, moral, and humanitarian call from one branch of the same nation to another.
Respectfully,
Eldar Qaradağlı
Chairman of the South Azerbaijan Liberation Party (GAQP)
22 January 2026
