On 10 April 2025 an “international” conference was held at the Pontifical Gregorian University in the Vatican, organised by the Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism. According to the published announcement, speakers came from Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Russia, South Korea, Poland, Italy, Germany, France, the USA and Lithuania. The conference bore the title “Christianity in Azerbaijan: History and Modernity.”

According to the organizers, the aim of the conference was to demonstrate Azerbaijan’s efforts aimed at preserving and developing its Christian heritage, to highlight inter-religious harmony, and to show the important role of Christianity in Caucasian Albania. The scholars and experts attending, according to Azerbaijani information, were to present the various manifestations of the Christian religion and culture in Azerbaijan—including historical, archaeological, ethnographic, linguistic and contemporary perspectives. The Azerbaijani side described the conference as a platform for academic dialogue and the exchange of knowledge.

However, the fact that the conference was organized in secret raises questions: the overwhelming majority of specialists in the field learned about it only by chance and received no invitation or possibility to apply. The Azerbaijani side kept the information strictly confidential and made it public only one or two days before the event began. Entrance to the conference was also closed.

Even more puzzling is the list of participants.

One of them is Robert Mobili, by profession a geologist who represents the Albanian-Udi community and church of Azerbaijan and, since 2020, has become known for numerous anti-scientific statements of a purely propaganda nature. Even in his so-called scholarly publications there is not a single factual reference or datum to substantiate his claims. Judging from the performances he stages in the Armenian churches of occupied Artsakh, he has no real idea of liturgy. Although presenting himself as a spiritual leader, Mobili has never once spoken about the theology of the supposedly revived Albanian-Udi church. All his statements target the Armenian side and the cultural heritage of Artsakh. (For more details on Robert Mobili’s statements and activities see: Udi Propaganda as an Expression of Azerbaijani Policy; The “Inventive” Mobili Decides to Call the 17th- to 19th-Century Armenian Khachkars of Occupied Hadrut “Albanian”.)

Another speaker was Archimandrite Alexy (Andrey V. Nikonorov)—one of Azerbaijani propaganda’s favourite tools. As an official clergyman of the Russian Church, he has constantly issued pro-Azerbaijani declarations. While speaking of tolerance and Christianity, he seems not to notice the appropriation, destruction and falsification of Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh. It is puzzling that a Russian priest representing the official Russian Church in Baku becomes a propaganda instrument, repeatedly making anti-Armenian statements and giving scholarly guise to Azerbaijani narratives. For unknown reasons, this supposedly tolerant clergyman, who presents himself as a scholar, has never spoken at a genuine academic conference. The “expert” on history also remains silent about the Armenian churches in Shushi being proclaimed Orthodox and about the Russian churches destroyed in the Soviet era. In some statements he has even voiced dubious opinions regarding the Armenian Apostolic Church. (See: On the Russian Church in Gevorgavan.)

Among the participants were also Ulviyya Hajiyeva and Mahabbat Pashayeva, well-known regulars of the Azerbaijani propaganda machine. The latter frequently appears on Azerbaijani television with interviews and programmes about the cultural heritage of occupied Artsakh.

Another leading figure was Philipp Ekozyants, who positions himself as an “independent and neutral Armenian scholar” uncovering “Armenian falsifications.” A glance at his social-media pages, programmes and interviews shows that he questions every episode of Armenian history and culture. He is a permanent guest on the broadcasts and interviews of notorious propagandist Rizvan Huseynov—though, strangely, Huseynov himself did not take part in this “theatre.”

Other participants bore the surnames Mobili and Danakari, giving the impression that Robert Mobili and Rafik Danakari had also invited their relatives to the conference.

Even more striking is the almost complete absence of staff from Azerbaijan’s Institute of Archaeology, including its director; only those who have appeared on propaganda programmes were present.

A closer look at the list of participants also raises doubts about their academic titles, professional interests and orientations.

Below we present the full list of participants with the titles of their papers.

Opening Addresses

• Ilgar Mukhtarov – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Holy See (Vatican)
• Karim Shukurov – Director of the Institute of History and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan; Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor (Azerbaijan)
• Ravan Hasanov – Executive Director, Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism (Azerbaijan)
• Robert Mobili – Head of the Albanian-Udi Christian Religious Community, Senior Researcher at Baku State University (Azerbaijan)

FIRST SESSION

Contemporary Christian Communities in Azerbaijan: A Multicultural Perspective

Moderators:

• Robert Mobili – Azerbaijan

• Gregory Neal Williams Jr. – USA

Papers:

Presentation of Christianity and Religious Education in Azerbaijani School Textbooks: Challenges and Revisions under Secular Conditions

• Mustafa Wshyar Abdullah Al-Ahmedi – Researcher, Ulster University (United Kingdom)

• Use of the Religious Factor in Inter-State, Territorial and Inter-Ethnic Conflicts

• Fuad Akhundov – Political scientist (Azerbaijan)

• Christianity in Contemporary Azerbaijan: Denominations and Currents

• Anar Alizadeh – Researcher on Christian affairs (Azerbaijan)

• History Independent of the Contemporary Life of Catholics in Azerbaijan

• Vladimir Fekete – Apostolic Prefect of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan, Bishop (Azerbaijan)

The Albanian-Udi Christian Community of Azerbaijan as Follower and Community of the Albanian (Caucasian) Church

• Robert Mobili – Head of the Albanian-Udi Christian Community; Senior Researcher, Baku State University

• Argo Mobili – Master’s student, Christian Theological Academy of Warsaw (Azerbaijan)

• The Universal Character of Orthodoxy and Its Relations with the Udi Ethnic Group: A Philosophical and Anthropological Reflection

• Richard Danakari – Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Volgograd State Agrarian University (Russia)

The Role of the Udis in the Historical Heritage of Caucasian Albania and Its Church

• Artem Kuranov – Director, Institute for Udi Studies; Candidate of Philological Sciences (Russia)
• The Significance of Christianity in Promoting Inter-Religious Dialogue, Religious Tolerance and Multiculturalism in Azerbaijan
• Nazila Isgandarova – Professor, Emmanuel College, Victoria University of Toronto (Canada)
• Steps toward the Restoration of the Church of Caucasian Albania in Modern Azerbaijan: Historical Prerequisites, Current Developments and Prospective Opportunities
• Gregory Neal Williams Jr. – Country Director of “Normisjon” in Azerbaijan; Visiting Professor at Covenant College; MA in Intercultural Studies (USA)
• World Cultural Heritage as a Factor Promoting Co-Existence of Contemporary Religions
• Francesco Mazzola – Vice-Rector, ISFOA Swiss University; Professor, Polytechnic University of Milan (Italy)

SECOND SESSION

Azerbaijan: Historical Geography and Statehood

Moderators:

• Ulviyya Hajiyeva – Azerbaijan

• Archimandrite Alexy (Andrey V. Nikonorov) – Malta

• Papers:

• Timurid Western Policy and Azerbaijan

• Azamat Ziyo – Director, Institute of History, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan; Academician (Republic of Uzbekistan)

Historical Geography of Caucasian Albania in the Context of Definitions of the Dioceses of the Albanian Apostolic Church

Ulviyya Hajiyeva – Scientific Editor of the collection “Ethnocultural Heritage of Caucasian Albania”; Senior Researcher, Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology; Candidate of Historical Sciences (Azerbaijan)

The Church of Caucasian Albania (Gandzasar Catholicosate) under Safavid Rule according to the Cartographic Memorandum of L. F. Marsili

Archimandrite Alexy (Andrey V. Nikonorov) – Doctor of Church History (PIO), Candidate of Theology; Clergyman of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, Malta; Patriarchal Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in Western Europe (Malta)

The Albanian Apostolic Church (CAAC) and the Commemoration of Heroes, Local Historical Figures and Events Connected with the Mother Church

• Bjorn Wegge – Doctor of Philology, University of Oslo (Kingdom of Norway)

• Ontological Perception of Christian Theology in the Context of Caucasian Albania

• Leman Berdeli – Doctor of Art History, “La Sapienza” University of Rome (Italy)

THIRD SESSION

Christianity in Azerbaijan: Source Studies and Historiography

Moderators:

• Farda Asadov – Azerbaijan

• Yuksel Ozgen – Turkey

• Papers:

Historical Research of the Turkish Historical Society Dedicated to Azerbaijan and the Caucasus

Yuksel Ozgen – President of the Turkish Historical Society; Doctor of Historical Sciences (Turkey)

• On the Lists of Archbishops of Caucasian Albania (4th–6th Centuries)

• Roman Lolua – Professor, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University; Doctor of Philological Sciences (Georgia)

• Historical and Chronological Dynamics of Christianity in Azerbaijan

• Karim Shukurov – Director, Institute of History and Ethnography, NAS of Azerbaijan; Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor (Azerbaijan)

Sources on Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijan in the Central State Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan (19th – Early 20th Centuries)

Ziyabek Kabuldinov – Director-General, Ch. Ch. Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnography; Corresponding Member of the NAS of Kazakhstan; Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor (Kazakhstan)

The Legend of Mount Babadağ as a Reflection of the Christian Layer

Gilles Authier – Professor of Caucasian Languages and Philology, École Pratique des Hautes Études (France)

Information on the Church of Caucasian Albania in the Notes of European Missionaries and Travellers

• Philipp Ekozyants – Researcher; Editor, “KLUCHAR” Publishing (Russia)

• On the Problems of Contemporary Historiography of Christianity in Caucasian Albania

• Zurab Kananchev – Director, “South Caucasus” Research Centre; Editor, Transcaucasica journal; Director, ANOGE “Brosko Gymnasium” (Russia)

• Family-Building Models and Religious Dynamics in Caucasian Albania

• Ilhami Tekin Cinemre – Department of History / Ancient History, Karadeniz Technical University; Doctor of Historical Sciences (Turkey)

• Movses Kaghankatvatsi’s “History of the Albanians” as a Legal Source for Settling Inter-Church Disputes in the South Caucasus in the 10th Century

• Farda Asadov – Head, “History and Economy of Arab Countries” Department, Institute of Oriental Studies named after Z. M. Bunyadov; Doctor of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor (Azerbaijan)

Greek and Local (Including Caucasian Albanian) Scribal Colophons in Gospel Manuscripts

• Jerzy Ostapczuk – Professor, Christian Theological Academy of Warsaw; Doctor of Theology (Republic of Poland)
• The Heritage of Archbishop Anastasius in the Process of Reviving the Albanian Orthodox Church
• Nathan Hoppe – Lecturer, Logos University College, Department of Theology and Culture (Republic of Albania)

FOURTH SESSION

Archaeological, Ethnographic, Linguistic and Cultural Heritage of Caucasian Albani

• Chairs:

• Mahabbat Pashayeva – Azerbaijan

• Roman Lolua – Georgia

Papers:

Albanian Lexicography: New Concepts

• Jost Gippert – Professor of Comparative Linguistics, Institute of Empirical Linguistics, Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany)
• Note: Jost Gippert, having seen the political, propagandistic and anti-Armenian nature of the event, declined to participate, yet the organisers kept his name in the programme.

The Place of Amaras Monastery in the History of Christianity in Azerbaijan

Mahabbat Pashayeva – Head, Research Centre for Multiculturalism of Azerbaijan; Senior Researcher, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, NAS of Azerbaijan; Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor

Problems in Preserving the Architectural Heritage of Caucasian Albania

• Gulchohra Mammadova – Rector, Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction; Doctor of Architecture, Professor

• Rufat Guliyev – Researcher, Department of Restoration of Architectural Structures and Monuments, Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction

• Historical Roots of Albanian Heritage

• Najaf Museibli – Head, “Ethnoarchaeology” Department, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography; Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor (Azerbaijan)

• Christian Architectural Monuments of Caucasian Albania–Azerbaijan in the Modern Era

• Sabina Hajiyeva – Head, “Restoration of Architectural Structures and Monuments” Department; Doctor of Architecture, Professor, Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction

Çora (Derbent) in the History of Caucasian Albania and Its Church

Gulchohra Seyidova – Head, UNESCO Chair “Comparative Study of Spiritual Traditions, Their Cultural Specificity and Inter-Religious Dialogue” in the North Caucasus; Vice-Rector for Research and International Relations, Institute of Friendship of the Peoples of the Caucasus; Professor (Russia)

Analytical Study of Falsified Construction Elements and Rock-Carved Images of the Ancient Albanian Monument “Agoğlan”

• Karim Rahimov – Head, Department of Crystallography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Baku State University; Associate Professor

• Robert Mobili – Head of the Albanian-Udi Christian Community; Senior Researcher, Baku State University

• Christian Cultural Heritage: Problems of Appropriation and Interpretation in Contemporary Secular Societies

• Rasa Čepaitienė – Professor, European Humanities University; Senior Researcher, Lithuanian Institute of History; Doctor of Historical Sciences (Lithuania)

• New Discoveries of the Latest Archaeological Expeditions in the Selbir District of Gabala (Capital of Caucasian Albania)

• Kim Jong-il – Professor, Department of Art History and Archaeology, Seoul National University (South Korea)

In the near future we will examine the more noteworthy papers by the non-specialists on Caucasian Albania in greater detail.

For now, we can state that, among a series of similar initiatives, the Azerbaijani side organised this conference in order to display its so-called tolerance and to justify its claim of ownership over the history and cultural heritage of occupied Artsakh. The intended message is: there once existed a Church of Caucasian Albania and a Christian community entirely unrelated to Armenians—an assertion that Baku seeks to have accepted by the Christian West, by Christian churches and by the Vatican. This is Azerbaijan’s long-term objective. The event also reveals the Aliyev regime’s deep-seated fear that it will eventually have to answer for the violent appropriation of Armenian heritage, for the brutal expulsion of Armenians from their historical homeland, and for many other crimes.