STOCKHOLM — Swedish Member of Parliament Erik Helsborn has called on Sweden and other Western nations to support Armenia to the extent possible and to make it clear to Baku’s regime that they do not accept Azerbaijan’s treatment of its own people and neighboring countries.
Helsborn made these remarks during Sweden’s annual parliamentary debate on foreign policy.
Discussing the situation in the South Caucasus, he urged the West to stand by Armenia in defense of democracy, freedom, and human rights, as well as for a stronger Europe and Western civilization. In his speech, the Swedish MP referred to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev as a dictator and accused him of terrorizing Armenia.
“A dictator sits just a few hundred miles from here—a dictator who terrorizes his smaller democratic neighbor, a country looking towards the West. This dictator falsely claims that Armenia is controlled by fascists and must be eradicated. He also complains about Western democratic nations supporting Armenia, arguing that this assistance threatens regional peace and stability,” Helsborn stated.
Providing historical context, the Swedish MP recalled that Armenia and Azerbaijan were both part of the Soviet Union for decades but became independent in the 1990s.
“Christian Armenia has developed along a democratic path and sees its future aligned with the West, rather than being trapped in Putin’s post-Soviet sphere. Meanwhile, Muslim Azerbaijan has remained an autocracy since its independence, with Ilham Aliyev inheriting power from his father. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the region has been plagued by armed conflicts, particularly over Nagorno-Karabakh—a territory historically inhabited by Christian Armenians who naturally sought unification with Armenia. However, Azerbaijan rejected this, citing Soviet-era border decisions made under Joseph Stalin,” he explained.
Helsborn argued that Azerbaijan’s president has used Stalin’s legacy to justify his territorial claims. He also referenced Azerbaijan’s military attack on Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023.
“The most recent chapter of this history unfolded in September 2023. After a nine-month blockade and immense humanitarian suffering, the Azerbaijani military entered and took control of Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to ethnic cleansing. More than 100,000 Armenians—99% of the region’s population—were forced to flee in fear for their lives, abandoning homes where their families had lived for generations. Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh has become one of the least free places in the world, according to Freedom House—a black hole where there is no freedom, no rights, and no human dignity,” Helsborn emphasized.
According to the MP, Azerbaijan’s authoritarian regime is characterized by the absence of free elections, the imprisonment of opposition figures, and systematic oppression of minorities. He noted that “anti-Armenian racism in Azerbaijan has become almost a state ideology.”
Helsborn warned that Azerbaijan’s aggressive rhetoric against Armenia remains a serious threat.
“This is not just about what has already happened or what is happening now; it is also about what might come next. Dictator Aliyev frequently uses militaristic rhetoric against Armenia. He demands territorial concessions and labels Armenia’s democratically elected government as fascists, whom he seeks to eliminate. The risk of another war is not far off,” he cautioned.
In conclusion, Helsborn argued that it is the moral duty of Western democracies to support Armenia and oppose Azerbaijan’s actions.
“The democratic West must always stand for democracy and against barbarism,” he stated.
