Azerbaijan sends protest note to Russia

Azerbaijan's embassy in Russia has sent an official protest note to the Russian Foreign Ministry over the appearance on Channel One of the program "Big Game" on October 20 and 21, 2022, in which Russian political scientists and experts of Armenian origin made outright anti-Azerbaijani attacks, Azerbaijan's territorial integrity was questioned, and our country's geographical map shown was distorted.

The note emphasised that the guests of the talk show with their performances provoke revanchist forces in the Armenian society, reanimate the conflict left in the past and openly supporting separatism, sow enmity between the two peoples, Trend reports citing the statement of the Azerbaijani embassy in Moscow.

The embassy informed the ministry that the use of biased statements on the air of the state TV channel and the admission of obvious political provocations runs counter not only to the official position of Russia, repeatedly voiced by the Russian president and expressed in support of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, but also undermines the steps taken to ensure long-term peace, stability and security in the region.

It was noted that in the current fragile peace in the region, media representatives have a special responsibility to prevent provocations that could lead to tension and aggravation of the situation.

It was also noted with regret that the host of this talk show and the direct accomplice of this "performance" is a member of the United Russia faction, First Deputy Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Nikonov.

"Such behaviour of representatives of the ruling party of Russia contradicts the spirit of Azerbaijani-Russian allied cooperation, and also causes significant damage to bilateral relations. The embassy once again drew Russia's attention to the fact that the relevant provisions of the Declaration on Allied Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation of February 22, 2022 contain a call to refrain from any actions detrimental to strategic partnership, allied relations and activities directed against the state sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states, and also provide joint efforts in countering separatism. Azerbaijan strongly demanded that Russia take urgent measures to stop the provocative actions of representatives of the Russian media and prevent their repetition in the future," the statement reads.