Azerbaijan's Parliament accuses Russian media of anti-Azerbaijani campaign

The Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament) has accused Russian media outlets and Telegram-based news channels of conducting a large-scale disinformation campaign targeting Azerbaijan and ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Russia.

The temporary Commission of the Milli Majlis against Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats stated that the campaign intensified following recent incidents involving Azerbaijani citizens in Yekaterinburg, Caliber.Az reports.

The commission reported that aggressive and inhumane rhetoric towards Azerbaijanis, as well as provocative calls for hostile actions against the Republic of Azerbaijan, had been widely circulated on various Russian platforms.

In an official statement, the commission said it was working in coordination with the Milli Majlis Secretariat, relevant parliamentary committees, and other government institutions to implement preventative measures against what it described as an orchestrated disinformation effort.

"We urge our citizens and compatriots abroad to rely solely on information provided by official government structures and representatives of the Republic of Azerbaijan," the statement added.

Note that, on June 30, Azerbaijani police raided the Baku office of Sputnik-Azerbaijan, detaining two individuals identified as Russian FSB officers.

Despite an earlier suspension of its activities, the Russian state-run agency reportedly continued operations.

Authorities cited a need to enforce parity in media representation between Russia and Azerbaijan. The Interior Ministry confirmed the detentions, with further details expected.

By Aghakazim Guliyev