Azerbaijan.US
Azerbaijan is prepared to respond to a potential influx of refugees from Iran, but such a scenario would pose serious risks to national security and internal stability, Azerbaijani lawmaker Arzuhan Alizade said in an interview with Musavat TV.
According to Alizade, regional tensions have been building for an extended period, making contingency planning unavoidable. He stressed that the state must be ready both institutionally and politically for possible humanitarian consequences stemming from instability south of Azerbaijan’s borders.
The lawmaker pointed to Turkey’s approach as a reference, arguing that Ankara’s decision to consider the creation of buffer zones near Iran is a rational step aimed at managing potential refugee pressure before it reaches national borders. Azerbaijan, he said, should also assess similar preventive mechanisms.
“If a large group of refugees heads toward Azerbaijan, we cannot simply shut our doors to people in need,” Alizade said. “At the same time, we must clearly understand that a massive influx could create serious internal tensions and pose direct threats to national security.”
He warned that an uncontrolled flow of refugees could strain border regions and affect internal stability. In this context, Alizade highlighted the importance of closely monitoring border areas such as Bilasuvar, Astara and Lerik, where both official crossings and informal routes exist.
The MP argued that accommodating displaced people within buffer zones outside Azerbaijan’s territory could help reduce pressure on the country and prevent destabilizing effects inside its borders.
Commenting on international reactions to potential escalation, Alizade criticized calls for restraint coming from Russia, describing them as inconsistent with Moscow’s own recent actions in other conflicts.
“A state that has been involved in prolonged military operations and large-scale destruction has limited moral authority to lecture others about restraint,” he said.
Alizade added that Russia’s policies, both historically and in recent years, have contributed significantly to instability across multiple regions, including the South Caucasus. He cited the long-term occupation of Azerbaijani territories as one of the consequences of Moscow’s regional approach.
The lawmaker concluded that the issue of a possible refugee crisis requires a carefully balanced state strategy – one that combines humanitarian responsibility with firm measures to safeguard national security.
