Russian Channel One questions Azerbaijan's territorial integrity Mistake or provocation?

Russia's Channel One has committed yet another provocation against Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. According to the essence and logic of bilateral Azerbaijani-Russian relations, its Director-General Konstantin Ernst should be punished by the Kremlin. Of course, if only an orderer of this provocation was not the Kremlin itself.

The day before [May 24], in prime time, a Channel One news release showed a story about how South Ossetia (Tskhinvali region of Georgia) hosted the ceremony of the "inauguration of the new president of the country", which was Alan Gagloev. We are not attempting to meddle in Russian-Georgian relations; the two sovereign states will resolve their differences on their own.

However, we couldn't ignore this story on Channel One, where flagrant political illiteracy and disrespect for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity were displayed, which, if we recall the events of February 22, 2022, is a Moscow ally. So, the story told that in addition to the Russian delegation, "guests from Abkhazia, the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh" had arrived in South Ossetia to attend the "inauguration".

The political engagement of the Channel One information programs directorate (or those who stand behind it) is obvious, because there is no such territorial unit as Nagorno-Karabakh on the territory of Azerbaijan - there is the Karabakh region.

But there is also disrespect for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, since "guests from Nagorno-Karabakh" are indicated in the context of representatives of the separatist regions of Georgia and Ukraine, who have found warm and cosy home under Mother Russia's protection. Russia, as the famous advertisement says, has a heart of gold. She may not have enough money to build roads and provide social security for her citizens, but when it comes to rogues and separatists, mother doesn't feel sorry for any money box for them. However, as they say, you're welcome. But without us. Without entangling Azerbaijan and its Karabakh region, since Baku did not delegate any messengers or guests to the show called "inauguration". And it could not - having suffered for many years from separatism and the occupation of its territories, Azerbaijan respects the territorial integrity of other countries. Whether it's Ukraine with Georgia or Serbia with Russia, or even Armenia, although historically the Azerbaijani people have every right to its territory and have not forgotten about Goycha region, Iravan and Zangazur. And since we demonstrate a similar approach, then we have the right to demand the same for ourselves. Without reservations.

Channel One is state-owned and funded by the Russian government. And that means it is time to recall paragraph 11 of the Declaration on Allied Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia, signed on February 22, 2022 in Moscow. In this paragraph, it is written in black and white: "The Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan resolutely suppress on their territories the activities of organisations and individuals directed against the state sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the other Party."
Well, if Moscow is true to its obligations under this declaration, then, logically, appropriate measures should be applied against the Channel One leadership, since there are activities directed against Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. And there is no need to talk about a mistake or ignorance of the situation here – in the story, after all, nothing was said about the delegates from the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Such excuses are similar to those used when someone tries to justify his inappropriate behaviour by citing alcohol intoxication or a state of mental health. So let's see how Moscow reacts: if they apologise to Azerbaijan on Channel One, then it means Moscow values relations with us. If they fail to do so, we must draw certain conclusions.