Russian propagandist makes another anti-Azerbaijani provocation
Goals and possible consequences

ANALYTICS  25 March 2024 - 17:00

We would like to remind the incident which occurred in June 2022. Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov apologised to Azerbaijan after the episode with Armenian separatist David Babayan, whom he interviewed in his “Soloviev Live” show as “a representative of the Armenians of Karabakh”.

“I made a big political mistake. It was my mistake that I gave the floor to only one side. This is my mistake, I apologise and I am ready to provide the floor to the Azerbaijani side,” nervous Solovyov said by stuttering.

A year and three months after this self-exposure session, which almost led to Solovyov’s self-flagellation, Azerbaijan carried out a brilliant one-day anti-terrorist operation in the Karabakh region, completely restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

David Babayan (former Karabakh separatist) was detained by the representatives of the Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies on September 29, 2023, he was charged under several articles of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. Presently, Babayan is reading books in a pre-trial detention centre, awaiting a fair trial of himself and the Karabakh junta accomplices.

It would seem that slightly frightened Solovyov should have drawn a lesson and should have never taken provocative steps against Azerbaijan.

However, as time has shown, he is a provocateur and Azerbaijanophob. Another provocation was made when Solovyov talked about the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall.

This terrorist attack was the biggest one in Russia in recent years. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Foreign Ministry, and other officials expressed condolences to the families and relatives of the victims of the terrorist attack.

People brought flowers to the Russian embassy in Baku. Azerbaijan, which repeatedly suffered as a result of terrorist attacks by Armenian militants, understands the consequences of dangerous terrorism.

Alas, Solovyov did not say anything about Azerbaijan’s reaction to the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, as well as about the Armenian terrorism.  

However, Russian journalist Oleg Kashin raised this topic. He noted that the Armenian radicals were mentioned in one of the versions of the terrorist attack.

He stated that the Armenians have a big tradition of terrorism. Kashin reminded the terrorist attacks in the Moscow metro in 1977, committed by Armenian terrorists. The explosions were carried out by a gang led by Stepan Zatikyan.

Apparently, Armenian terrorists have nothing to do with the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall. However, the version put forward by Kashin may be voiced as there were precedents for terrorist attacks in Moscow committed by Armenians.

However, Azerbaijanis were not involved in such crimes. Despite this, Solovyov made an obvious provocation, which caused bewilderment and indignation in Azerbaijan.

Solovyov mentioned the “Azerbaijani surname” of one of those accused of committing a terrorist attack in the business centre owned by businessman Agalarov.

The Agalarov family was the victim. Moreover, an Azerbaijani man was killed as a result of the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall. There could be more victims, taking into account that many Azerbaijanis work there.

Solovyov remained silent about this. While speaking about those accused of committing a terrorist attack, he blurted out that “one of them, by the way, has an Azerbaijani surname. The patronymic of the accused is mentioned as his last name. Was this an accidental mistake by Solovyov?

Taking into account all his previous anti-Azerbaijani statements and provocations, we have no doubt. In this case, the matter rests in the purpose of inciting anti-Azerbaijani sentiments in Russian society.

Solovyov gets nervous and makes mistakes. However, not only Solovyov makes mistakes. Three citizens of Tajikistan, whose photos were allegedly distributed on Telegram channels after the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, did not commit crimes in Russia, the Tajik Interior Ministry reported.

According to the ministry, Rivojiddin Islomov and Mahmadrasul Nasriddinov “arrived from the Russian Federation to the Republic of Tajikistan on November 26, 2023 and are at their place of residence”.

The ministry also published their photos. Another citizen, Rustam Nazarov, “currently works as a taxi driver in Samara,” the ministry said. There is a discrepancy.

However, Solovyov is silent about this. A major terrorist attack in the capital of any country is, first of all, a failure of all intelligence services. I assume that Solovyov is reluctant to discuss this topic as he understands the high risk.

Therefore, it is easier for him to engage in manipulation and provocation. He and other Russian propagandists repeatedly commit  provocations.

Let's remember the terrorist attack at Domodedovo airport - an explosion was carried out by suicide bomber Magomed Evloev. By the way, this was a Russian citizen, a native of Ingushetia, not an Azerbaijani man.

I also remind Solovyov and the readers that after the terrorist attack at Domodedovo airport, Russian propagandists turned public attention from the obvious fact of the failure of the intelligence services to Moscow’s greedy taxi drivers who inflated prices for those wishing to leave the airport after the terrorist attack.

The purpose of this information technology was obvious - to lead the discussion in the direction desired by the propagandists. We see the same situation today. Solovyov deliberately made an anti-Azerbaijani provocation for the conversation to be favourable for propagandists.

However, Solovyov should remember the consequences of his tricks. Once he was forced to apologise for his mistake regarding Azerbaijan.

It is quite possible that he will have to once again apologise for purposefully inciting anti-Azerbaijani sentiments in the Russian society.

Caliber.Az