Azerbaijani lawmakers criticise France's neocolonialism, media tactics

Member of the People of Corsica Support Group in the Azerbaijani parliament Tural Ganjaliyev has stated that Azerbaijan places great importance on fostering cooperation with overseas territories.

Ganjaliyev made these remarks during a meeting with journalists from French colonies, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

The lawmaker emphasised that France’s continued presence in several overseas territories is linked to neocolonialism.

"Even today, this country maintains its political and economic influence over these territories. For centuries, France pursued colonial policies in Africa, Corsica, and the Caribbean, and the peoples living in these regions suffered as a result. We must fight against France's neocolonial policy," he said. 

In a similar vein, Shahin Ismayilov, another member of the People of Corsica Support Group, accused France of waging an unsuccessful campaign to discredit Azerbaijan by using fake news in the media. 

He noted that France often resorts to similar tactics during major events to cover up its failures. 

"However, the unchanging truth is that if you are right, you have a better chance of winning. Rest assured, you will achieve a successful outcome in your just struggle," Ismayilov declared, reaffirming Azerbaijan's commitment to its principles.

Earlier, ADA University in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku launched a series of media training sessions designed for journalists from French colonial territories.

The initiative, organised by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), aimed to equip media professionals with tools and strategies to tackle the growing challenges of propaganda, disinformation, and psychological manipulation in the media landscape.

The training focused on developing communication strategies that counteract false narratives and encourage the dissemination of accurate, factual information. The programme was also tailored to help journalists strengthen their resilience against unreliable media outlets and improve their ability to identify and combat disinformation tactics.

This initiative aimed to strengthen media resilience by providing participants with practical methods to identify and counter false narratives, promote the spread of accurate information, and effectively combat manipulation tactics rooted in disinformation.

In addition to the workshops, participants discussed various issues facing the media industry today, sharing experience and collaborating on solutions. The training marked a significant step in enhancing media integrity and credibility in regions affected by media manipulation.

By Naila Huseynova