A public hearing on the topic of "The return to Western Azerbaijan: Legal aspects" has gotten underway Monday in the Azerbaijani parliament.

To note, when saying "Western Azerbaijan," Baku refers to Armenia, and particularly Syunik and Vayots Dzor Provinces.

As part of the aforesaid public hearing, it was announced that criminal cases would be initiated "in connection with the forcible deportation of Azerbaijanis from Western Azerbaijan."

"Among the legal aspects regarding the return to Western Azerbaijan, determining the crimes committed against our compatriots who lived in Western Azerbaijan by Armenia and its patrons for centuries, the provenance of those crimes, formalization in accordance with the law and in accordance with international standards, bringing possible guilty persons to criminal responsibility plays a significant role," said deputy prosecutor general of Azerbaijan Elmar Jamalov during the aforementioned public hearing, APA reports.