Azerbaijan warns against campaigns targeting ties with Türkiye Official statement

Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (MEDIA) has expressed concern over unfounded and biased claims circulating in Turkish media and social media, saying they are aimed at undermining relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye.

İn a statement, the agency said that the claims did not conform to diplomatic, ethical and legal norms and were creating a negative public perception of relations between the two countries, Caliber.Az reports. 

The agency said it considered the continuation of periodic smear campaigns against Azerbaijan, as well as the spread of false claims and disinformation without measures being taken to counter them, regrettable and unacceptable.

“Given the high level of relations between the two brotherly countries and the atmosphere of mutual trust, we find it regrettable and unacceptable that periodic smear campaigns against Azerbaijan continue, that false claims and disinformation are spread so easily, yet no measures are being taken to counter this,” the agency said. 

The statement said the campaign was not a random initiative by individuals, but rather part of a targeted campaign coordinated by certain circles and carried out according to a unified approach.

“Such actions fall outside the legal and ethical framework and also violate the laws of the Republic of Türkiye,” the agency said.

The Azerbaijani side believes that, as in other similar cases, legal requirements must be observed with regard to Azerbaijan, according to the statement.

MEDİA said Azerbaijani authorities were closely monitoring developments in the Turkish media and on social media and did not rule out taking appropriate measures provided for by law, including potentially restricting entry into Azerbaijan for the organisers and perpetrators of the defamatory campaign.

“Azerbaijani society considers it unacceptable to provide a platform to those who seek to undermine the historical, political, and moral ties, mutual trust, and strategic alliance forged between our two states and peoples, and expects concrete practical measures to be taken to prevent such attempts,” the organisation’s statement reads.

By Sabina Mammadli