A Clarification From the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, on Disturbing Reports that have Appeared in the Media regarding Comments made by Her Imperial Highness about a Possible Future Visit by Her to Nagornyi Karabakh.

On November 9, 2011, in Erevan, a press conference was held with the Head of the Russian Imperial House, Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, during which she took questions and made remarks about her first trip to Armenia.

Among the many questions asked the Grand Duchess at the press conference was the following: “Do you intend someday to visit Nagornyi Karabakh?” Her Imperial Highness answered with the following precise words: “I do not know. Perhaps. If God grants it. It would be wonderful to do so!”

These simple and carefully-weighed words from the Head of the Russian Imperial House, which demonstrate Her Imperial Highness’s full understanding of the sensitive nature of the situation surrounding Nagornyi Karabakh and her wish only to contribute to the easing of tensions between the peoples and governments involved, have, according to some media reports, sadly elicited a disturbing reaction from some representatives of the government of Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani News Agency “SalamNews” has spread the message that the Head of the Press-Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, E. Abdullaev, had said that “in the event of a visit by the Head of the Imperial House of Romanoff to the occupied territories, such visit would be considered illegal and would constitute a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.”

This statement, if it truly was made, is regrettable and reveals a bias and an absolute unwillingness to grasp the essence of the position of the Head of the Russian Imperial House.

The Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, considers it to be one of her most important goals to foster and strengthen friendly relations between all the peoples that once belonged to the single civilization and cultural space that once was the All-Russian Empire. Strictly out of principle, she abjures involvement or comment of any kind in political controversy, wholly recognizing the sovereignty and legal processes of the states that arose after the fall of the USSR, nor does she in any way publicly question the operation of international law and never under any circumstances does she take or advocate any steps that would be deemed illegal.

At the same time, Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, in her capacity as Head of the Russian Imperial House and as the legal heiress of the All-Russian emperors and the curatrix of the historical patrimony and spiritual values of the Romanoff Dynasty, has on numerous occasions stated that, when visiting the Russian Federation and the other states which arose after the fall of the USSR, she feels entirely at home, as in her own homeland, and makes these trips to see and greet her countrymen, who are all equally dear to her regardless of their religious background, nationality, political affiliation, or any other attribute.

All the visits Her Imperial Highness has made have been devoid of any political motives, and have always been conducted in a spirit of mutual affection, respect, and friendship. When visiting independent countries or regions of the Russian Federation where the majority of the population is Muslim, the Grand Duchess is always received with especial honor and respect, not only because she is the Head of the House of Romanoff, but because she is a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (all Russian sovereigns starting with Peter III—the grandson of Emperor Peter I the Great and the son of Tsarevna Anna Petrovna and Duke Karl-Friedrich of Holstein-Gottorp—have inherited this family connection from the Holstein-Gottorp House.).

Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, being a citizen of the Russian Federation, has the right to visit any country with which Russia enjoys a visa-free regime, including, of course, Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this regard, and fully appreciating the fact that her actions are always to a certain degree public and can have public reverberations, the Head of the Russian Imperial House agrees to make visits and gives her consent to individual items on her itinerary only when she is absolutely certain that her actions serve the cause of unity, the quelling of conflicts, and will not be exploited by anyone to deepen division or foster hostility.

With respect to the likelihood of visiting Nagornyi Karabakh, the Head of the Russian Imperial House has briefly and very clearly expressed the thought that, while she does not know the circumstances or time when it will be feasible, she nonetheless looks forward to such a visit, hoping in God’s help, and would be very pleased if in the end her visit could be something that was for the good of all her countrymen, regardless of what religion or nationality they are. One searches in vain for anything objectionable in the response given by Her Imperial Highness in the recent press conference.

One hopes that the public and incorrect statements that have been issued by some in response to Her Imperial Highness’s comments will be officially disavowed by the government of Azerbaijan, whose people firmly possess the genuine affection and deep respect of the Head of the Russian Imperial House.

A.N. Zakatov
Director of H.I.H.’s Chancellery