Azerbaijani embassy in Moscow denounces Facebook video as fake

A video message circulating on Facebook, allegedly from Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu, claims he is in poor health and undergoing forced treatment. However, the Azerbaijani diplomatic mission in Russia has declared this video a gross fabrication and announced that measures will be taken against it.

“A video message on behalf of the Azerbaijani ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu about his allegedly poor health, complaining to doctors and forced course of treatment has been circulated on Facebook. We would like to inform you that this video message made by ‘deep-fake’ technology is a gross fake, which does not correspond to reality and represents false information,” Caliber.Az reports via local media, citing the Azerbaijani diplomatic mission in Russia.

The embassy emphasized that no such interview ever took place and that the video is entirely fabricated, based on a previous interview given to CBC-Azerbaijan TV channel.

"Such an interview never happened, and everything that is shown in this video is fabricated from beginning to end," the embassy stated.

The fake video clearly shows discrepancies between Bulbuloglu's speech and the image on the screen, highlighting its inauthenticity.

The diplomatic mission has urged everyone who saw the video not to believe the provocations it spreads. "Appropriate measures will be taken on our part about the said fake and false video message," the embassy assured.

The embassy also expressed regret over Facebook's lack of response to repeated appeals to block or remove the content.

"We note with particular regret that the social network Facebook, despite repeated appeals, does not respond to complaints in any way and does not take any measures to block or remove this content," the embassy said.