Last summer, while on a family holiday, vocalist took the time to write a "kind" personal letter to Las Vegas pop-rock stars asking them to reconsider playing a show in Baku, Azerbaijan which he argued could be viewed as an endorsement of the country's authoritarian President Ilham Aliyev, stating that to proceed with the gig at Baku Olympic Stadium "would help whitewash the dictatorial regime’s image." Ahead of the band's scheduled September 2 gig in the Azerbaijan capital, Tankian drew attention to an news report highlighting a warning from a former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court that Azerbaijan was preparing genocide against ethnic Armenians in its Nagorno-Karabakh region. "I really feel that performing in Azerbaijan would have a negative impact on your brand as well," the singer's letter cautioned.
"I’m confident that you can decipher all the facts for yourselves to decide whether to cancel your concert." In an open letter circulated in August '23, fellow musicians , Brian Eno and also urged the band to pull the show, referencing the American band's "commendable" commitment to inclusion and human rights. "Performing in Baku under these circumstances, regardless of intent, can only help the government of Azerbaijan cover up its crimes," the letter stated.
When Serj Tankian received no acknowledgement of, or response to, his concerns by Imagine Dragons, he for what he interpreted as "their disregard for this humanitarian catastrophe." He also urged.