Azerbaijan accuses pro-Armenian circles of disinformation effort undermining peace process Full statement

The Milli Majlis Temporary Commission on Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats in Azerbaijan has accused pro-Armenian networks abroad of conducting a coordinated disinformation campaign targeting Azerbaijan and the ongoing peace process with Armenia.

The commission said in a statement that recent monitoring identified targeted and unified information efforts involving Armenian lobby groups, foreign individuals in influential positions, and various media outlets operating in multiple countries, Caliber.Az reports via state media.

“During monitoring conducted within its mandate, the Milli Majlis Temporary Commission on Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats [the Commission] has observed a disinformation campaign in recent days targeting Azerbaijan, as well as the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

Adopting a different tactic this time, Armenian lobby organizations have centered their smear campaign around creating hype concerning several issues, including the so-called ‘genocide,’ ‘prisoners of war,’ and buildings in the city of Khankendi. At the same time, to avoid the appearance of a coordinated campaign, facts have been uncovered indicating that talking points were distributed to participants via private channels, email, and encrypted messaging platforms.

Armenian lobby organizations based in the US, Europe, and Russia have stood out for their particular activity in this campaign.

An analysis of the campaign on the 'X' [formerly Twitter] social media platform over the past week shows that more than 220 posts were made through 130 different accounts, recording nearly one million total interactions. These posts were primarily made from the accounts of bloggers of Armenian origin, Armenian news sites, and pro-Armenian foreign bloggers and activists.

Additionally, articles based on similar talking points appeared in several less-prominent online media outlets located in the United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, Poland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Georgia, Israel, Vatican City, Greece, India, Russia, Armenia, and other countries.

The facts established by the Commission once again demonstrate that these circles, who prioritize personal goals and once reaped high dividends from the conflict, are using all available means, including their proxies in foreign parliaments, certain city mayors, and current or former officials, to strike a blow to the fragile peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and to harm interstate relations,” the statement reads.