As Nikol Pashinyan moves forward with plans for constitutional changes demanded by Azerbaijan, the country’s highest-ranking Muslim cleric has renewed claims concerning Yerevan, calling for the restoration of an Azerbaijani religious institution historically associated with Armenia’s capital.
On November 2, the same day Pashinyan announced plans to publish a draft of Armenia’s new Constitution, Allahshukur Pashazade, chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, described the restoration of the so-called “Irevan Qaziyat” as a historical necessity.
Speaking at the presentation of the book *History of the Irevan Qaziyat* in Baku, Pashazade confirmed that his religious organization had already administratively reestablished the institution and was working to promote its claims internationally.
He praised Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for establishing the “Western Azerbaijan Community,” an organization promoting claims concerning internationally recognized Armenian territory, including Yerevan.
Pashazade also accused Armenians of deliberately displacing Azerbaijanis from what he described as their ancestral lands and pledged continued support for their return.
The Caucasus Muslims Board has been cooperating with the “Western Azerbaijan Community” to publish materials in Azerbaijani and English, seeking to advance these historical and territorial narratives internationally.
The statements come as Pashinyan’s government advances constitutional changes that Azerbaijan has made a prerequisite for signing a peace agreement.
On November 2, Pashinyan announced that a draft of the new Constitution would be published in November. He also indicated that his ruling majority should lead public pressure against opposition lawmakers if they refuse to support a constitutional referendum under the conditions he outlined.
Azerbaijan claims that Armenia’s existing Constitution contains territorial claims through its reference to the 1990 Declaration of Independence, which cites the 1989 decision on the reunification of Armenia and Artsakh.
Although Armenian authorities have rejected that interpretation, Pashinyan’s government continues preparing a new Constitution. Opposition lawmakers have warned that meeting Azerbaijan’s constitutional demands would not necessarily prevent Baku from introducing additional conditions.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan continues promoting its “Western Azerbaijan” campaign, portraying substantial portions of Armenia, including Yerevan, as historically Azerbaijani territory. The campaign has continued despite the initialing of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan on August 8, 2025.
The renewed claims also come three years after Azerbaijan’s September 2023 military offensive against Artsakh, which resulted in the forced ethnic cleansing of more than 100,000 Armenians from their homeland.
While the Armenian population of occupied Artsakh remains forcibly displaced, Azerbaijani state-linked institutions continue promoting the return of Azerbaijanis to Armenia under the “Western Azerbaijan” framework, even as Baku maintains its demand for constitutional changes before signing a peace agreement.
