“GEGHARD”
SCIENTIFIC ANALYTICAL
FOUNDATION
2025
2025
Azerbaijan's longstanding claims over the territories of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the fabrication of history based on these claims, have recently intensified to an extreme degree. As a result, projects contradicting reality are being "born," one of which is the so-called "Goycha-Zangezur Republic."
In September 2022, a group of Azerbaijanis announced the establishment of the "Goycha-Zangezur Republic" (GZR) within the territory of the Republic of Armenia, claiming it would encompass the Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik regions. In Ankara, Azerbaijanis Rizvan Talibov and Mehmet Ali Arslan declared themselves "president" and "vice president" of the "Goycha-Zangezur Republic of Western Azerbaijan." In his speech, "president" Talibov stated that Turkey was the first country to recognize this so-called republic, adding, "Turkey and Western Azerbaijan’s Goycha-Zangezur are one nation, two states." "Vice president" Mehmet Ali Arslan further asserted that Zangezur is Ottoman land.
According to their statement, which outlined the future government structure of the newly proclaimed "republic," the formation of a parliament (National Assembly) was to be announced within a month. The plan proposed that the capital of the republic would be either Kapan (Azerbaijani: Gafan) or Vardenis (Basargechar). Remarkably, the absurdity reached the point where the statement mentioned that Armenia would be consulted to choose which of these two cities it preferred as the capital of the GZR. Additionally, Article 11 of the statement claimed that the "Goycha-Zangezur Republic" would consider and accept coexistence with the Armenian population under peaceful conditions within Armenia’s internationally recognized borders, based on a federal legal framework. The initiators of the project had also held negotiations with Ali Bapir, a leader of Iraq's Kurdish Islamist movement.
According to Azerbaijani media, Rizvan Talibov was born in Yankhkaya (Meshakent), currently Antaramej village of Chambarak region of Soviet Armenia. He studied at the International relations department of Baku State University, and has a degree of doctor of political sciences. However, it appears that he does not enjoy significant authority in Azerbaijan. In 2005, when Ali Insanov[1] was arrested, Talibov established and led a committee to protect Insanov’s rights.
The leader of another Azerbaijani "project," Gafar Chakhmakhli, who had created the "Government in exile of the Turkish Republic of Irevan," appointed Talibov as the "vice president" of this "republic." However, in 2021, Talibov resigned and, a year later, announced the creation of the "Goycha-Zangezur Republic." Chakhmakhly considered this a provocation and, in an interview with Cebhe.info, accused Talibov of dividing the "Western Azerbaijanis."
The "Western Azerbaijan community" declared that it does not recognize the "Goycha-Zangezur Republic," has no connection to it, and considers such amateur activities harmful in terms of returning "historical lands." Moreover, Hikmet Babaoglu, a member of the Azerbaijani parliament and vice president of the "Western Azerbaijan community," stated that this is a provocation against the opening of the "Zangezur corridor" and said that Talibov might aim to establish a Kurdish state in Zangezur. Babaoglu pointed out that Talibov appointed Mehmet Ali Arslan as vice president, who had been in negotiations with Ali Bapir, the leader of Iraq's Kurdish "Islamic Justice" party. Notably, Mehmet Ali Arslan is of Kurdish descent.
Arslan’s statement in Ankara that Zangezur is Ottoman land triggered the "Western Azerbaijan community" to organize protests in Azerbaijan. According to the ‘community’ such statements will harm the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, characterizing it as "a cunning and cynical provocation aimed at undermining the brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Turkey."
In 2023, Rizvan Talibov was dismissed from leadership of the "Goycha-Zangezur Republic," and Tunzala Chalabieva, a resident of Turkey, was appointed to lead the non-existent republic. However, in August of the same year, Azerbaijan's State Security Service arrested both Talibov and Chalabieva. A few days later, it was announced that the initiators of the "Goycha-Zangezur Republic" had ceased their activities and abandoned their ideas.
Thus, Azerbaijan's persistent claims over the sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia and the projects built on fabricated historical narratives reflect the contradictions in Azerbaijan's policies and propaganda. Such provocative initiatives emerge at the intersection of ideological, political, and personal interests, serving as further evidence that these projects lack historical, scientific, and political justification.
Photo by Nerses Matinyan
[1] A doctor, politician, and Minister of Health of Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2005, he was a member of the first convocation of the Milli Mejlis (National Assembly). He was arrested on the eve of the Milli Mejlis elections in Azerbaijan, accused of seizing power by force and organizing mass riots.