Controversy grows after Azeri judge awards the maximum 12 points to Armenian singer

Azerbaijan’s former Eurovision representative Samira Efendi, who was selected for the cancelled 2020 contest and went on to perform at Eurovision 2021, has faced a wave of criticism after giving the maximum possible 12 points to Armenian singer Saro Gevorgyan during the Silk Road Star competition on 23 November in Astana. Gevorgyan, who was rumored to have been considered as a potential Eurovision act for Armenia in 2022, received Efendi’s top mark in the final round, sparking heated online debate.

According to reporting by OC Media, the incident rapidly became a talking point on Azerbaijani social networks. Efendi explained during the competition that she wanted peace in the world and therefore refused to lower her score. She then hugged Gevorgyan on stage, an image that circulated widely online.

The debate intensified after pro-government media highlighted earlier claims that Gevorgyan had served in the Armenian army in 2019. Unconfirmed rumors soon followed suggesting he may have participated in the Second Nagorno Karabakh War in 2020. What had begun as a cultural conversation quickly took on a political dimension.

Amid the growing reaction, Efendi appeared as a guest on Khazar TV and said she did not regret her decision. She stated that she had given Gevorgyan lower marks in earlier stages of the competition but that his final performance convinced her to award full points. Efendi recalled a private exchange in which Gevorgyan told her she was harming his career by marking him down. She said the comment affected her strongly.

Efendi also referred to her experience at Eurovision 2021 in the Netherlands. She claimed that Armenian fans threw eggs and tomatoes in her direction and waved flags, an incident that she said was not covered by Azerbaijani media. Despite that memory, she insisted that she wanted young people in both countries to grow up in peace rather than take up weapons on the front line. She added that her stance was consistent with Azerbaijani President’s declared support for peace with Armenia.

Some reactions were far more severe. Akif Naghi, head of the pro-government Free Homeland Party, attacked her on social media using insults and urged that she be banned from representing Azerbaijan abroad. He wrote that every Azerbaijani should spit in her face. Efendi has announced that she intends to take legal action against him.

Efendi’s decision to give her 12 points to an Armenian contestant may be a small moment within a regional music competition, but the strength of the public reaction shows how sensitive cultural interactions remain in the South Caucasus. Both countries signed a peace agreement in August that formally commits them to coexistence based on recognised borders.

Whether that diplomatic progress will be reflected in softer arenas remains an open question. With Eurovision 2026 on the horizon, observers are wondering if the long tradition of mutual zero points between Azerbaijan and Armenia is nearing its end.