TASS once again alters headline on Khankendi news report

The Russian state news agency TASS has made further edits to an article originally published on July 31, following criticism from Azerbaijan over its terminology regarding the city of Khankendi.

The latest revision involves the article's headline, in which the phrase “Nagorno-Karabakh” has now been changed to “Karabakh,” Caliber.Az reports.

Despite this update, the body of the article continues to use the Armenian name “Stepanakert” when referring to events prior to Azerbaijan’s 2023 anti-terror operation.

The original headline read: “A Monument to Aivazovsky Demolished in Stepanakert.” It drew a sharp response from Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, which criticised the use of terminology that failed to reflect the country’s territorial integrity. The Azerbaijani state news agency (Azertag) also issued a statement in reaction to the phrasing.

Calling the move a revival of a long-discarded toponym alien to the Azerbaijani people, Azertag warned that such actions threaten bilateral media ties and could prompt reciprocal measures involving the use of historical names for Russian cities.

In response, TASS made overnight corrections on August 1, replacing “Stepanakert” in the headline with “Nagorno-Karabakh.” 

Khankendi, the Azerbaijani name of the city, has deep historical roots, dating back to the late 18th century. The name translates to “the Khan’s village” and refers to the estate of Ibrahim Khalil Khan, where Karabakh horses—an emblem of regional heritage—were kept.