Baku: The Commission on Countering Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats of the Milli Majlis, Azerbaijan’s Parliament, has issued a statement regarding an extensive information campaign against Azerbaijan originating from Russia. This development followed the broadcast of President Ilham Aliyev’s interview with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya television channel.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the commission highlighted that immediately after President Aliyev’s interview on August 27, a significant campaign was launched from Russian territory. The campaign allegedly took the president’s comments on the Zangezur Corridor out of context, leading to falsified or distorted presentations to the Russian audience. The effort appears designed to foment anti-Azerbaijan sentiment within Russian society.

The commission’s monitoring has identified that the campaign employs various media, including television channels, news websites, and social media platforms, to spread its message. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X, despite being banned or restricted in Russia, are reportedly being used, along with profiles and bots under foreign identities. There is also a targeted approach involving advertisements in Azerbaijan’s social media space, featuring rhetoric that threatens the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The commission asserts that these campaigns have failed to influence public opinion within Azerbaijan but may instigate false perceptions and hostility in Russia. The statement also suggests that the roots of the ‘Russophobia’ syndrome troubling Russia can be traced back to the activities of certain ‘Z’ bloggers.

In response, the Commission on Countering Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats, in partnership with relevant state institutions, continues to monitor these hostile actions and implement appropriate countermeasures.