Azerbaijani singer and Eurovision 2021 representative Samira Efendi has faced intense criticism on Azerbaijani social media after awarding 12 points to Armenian participant Saro Gevorgyan in the final of the international music competition Silk Way Star, recently held in Astana.
According to Factor.am , while some users condemned her move, others voiced support.
In a statement to Azerbaijani media, Efendi said, “I am a citizen of Azerbaijan and do not forget my history. But our future is in our hands. I strive to support our president’s peace policy. Artists must act as small bridges toward peace.”
She emphasized that throughout the competition, she rated the Armenian contestant based solely on performance quality and had previously given him low scores, which she described as objective. However, the final round was different, she noted, as there was no Azerbaijani finalist and, in her view, the winner no longer mattered.
“In the final, I gave everyone 12 points, including the Armenian contestant. He truly gave a great performance,” she said.
Efendi said her choice was guided by moral conviction and a desire for peace. “When I gave him 12 points, he gestured that he wanted to hug me. He came over and thanked me. I was worried about what my father would say. But he called and told me, ‘You didn’t do anything wrong.’ His words gave me strength. If necessary, I can apologize to the families of our martyrs—but I did this because I don’t want any more wars.”
Efendi also revealed that during Eurovision 2021, she had been subjected to pressure from Armenian representatives and had received no support at the time. “Back then, I was alone in that struggle. Now I want to leave it behind and look toward a future of peace and mutual respect.”
Azerbaijani media also report that Efendi plans to take legal action against Akif Nagi, head of the “Free Homeland” party, who made highly offensive comments about her on social media.
Nagi wrote: “Someone named Samira Efendi continues her disgusting acts in the name of the Azerbaijani people. Now, at a music contest in Kazakhstan, she hugs an Armenian and says they’re friends. Has she ever hugged a mother of a martyr or a soldier missing limbs or eyes? The authorities must not allow her to represent Azerbaijan anywhere. Every Azerbaijani should spit in her face if they see her. They must not toy with our national dignity.”
On August 8, a trilateral summit was held at the White House, where Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a joint declaration. In Washington, Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers initialed the “Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations.”
