"In recent years, distressing reports have appeared in the media about dozens of Azerbaijanis who have been killed or gone missing while taking part in the Russia–Ukraine war on both sides. Alongside our compatriots who joined the war either voluntarily or at the request of the country in which they live, cases of Azerbaijani citizens being recruited into operations on a mercenary basis are increasing," said Zahid Oruj, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Milli Majlis, at today's parliamentary session, APA reports.
Zahid Oruj said that pages on social networks that are undoubtedly connected to intelligence centers are conducting targeted advertisements, recruitment campaigns under the guise of "contract service", "work" or "training": "Since there are no official statistics, according to the figures provided by military organizations, hundreds of our compatriots and citizens are fighting in the trenches."
He noted that those who recruit individuals who gained professional military experience during the Patriotic War into the war in Ukraine—forcing brother to fire upon brother—are dealing a military and political blow not only to their families, but also to the Azerbaijani state:
“The greatest loss is when professional individuals who gained combat experience in Karabakh join fighting abroad in exchange for monthly payment. It appears that the aim of foreign intelligence centers is also to damage the reputation of those sons who took part in the Patriotic War and earned the image of a victorious army, by involving them in a war of aggression. As a result, the loss is not only to our nation, but also to our army.
Alongside the deaths made public by the media, there is no information about many of our compatriots who have gone missing or been taken captive. Those who return home wounded, yet carry the brutal psychological effects of war in their minds, become a serious moral and social burden for their families and society, and pose a potential risk of joining radical groups in the future.
The state security agencies, by rightly detaining former “Wagner” fighters, have sent a clear message to all our citizens and compatriots: our Patriotic War is Karabakh, the liberation of our lands, and now the Great Return. Participation in terrorist organizations or within the regular armies of various states carries the same level of legal and moral responsibility.
There is no doubt that intelligence services of third countries are behind this campaign.”
Zahid Oruj emphasized that Azerbaijani citizens who lost their lives in the Russia–Ukraine war should not be considered “martyrs,” and that those who promote such narratives are dealing a blow to the nation’s gene pool: “We reserve the title of ‘martyr’ only for those who give their lives in defense of the homeland. Only joining a war for brotherly Türkiye, without waiting for a state decision, is a sacred cause—similar to the Battle of Çanakkale. Equating the heroes of the Patriotic War with those who die in foreign conflicts offends the spirits of the sons who sacrificed their lives for our lands.
The Azerbaijani state does not officially participate as a military ally in the war of any country,” he said.
