Azerbaijan Takes Lead in Combating Disinformation at Turkic States Forum

Azerbaijan’s battle against disinformation took center stage at the Turkic States Forum on Combating Disinformation in Ankara this week, as officials shared their nation’s hard-won expertise in countering false narratives.

Javid Musayev, Head of the Communication Policy Sector at the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, emphasized the profound significance of the gathering, calling it “not merely an event, but a declaration” in response to unprecedented challenges in the global information landscape.

“No one understands better than Azerbaijan what it means to confront disinformation. We have experienced it firsthand,” Musayev told forum attendees. He referenced Azerbaijan’s experience during the Second Karabakh War, when the country faced what he described as a “relentless onslaught” of misinformation across Western news outlets and social media platforms.

The Azerbaijani official detailed how his country developed countermeasures against false narratives, including welcoming international journalists to witness conditions on the ground and providing regular, factual briefings. He specifically highlighted President Ilham Aliyev’s direct engagement with major global news outlets including BBC, CNN, and Euronews during the 44-day conflict.

“This is how a true Supreme Commander-in-Chief operates in a hybrid war,” Musayev stated, underscoring how information security has evolved from being merely a component of national security to its very foundation.

The forum, which brought together delegations from Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Hungary, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, aims to establish sustainable communication channels among Turkic states and strengthen cooperation against disinformation threats.

Musayev emphasized the particular importance of Turkic state cooperation, describing the organization as “not merely an alliance” but “a gift from God” that must be nurtured. He referenced President Aliyev’s statement that “the Organization of Turkic States is our primary international body because it is our family: ‘We have no other family. Our family is the Turkic world.'”

The forum marks a significant step in implementing the Information Action Plan of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) for 2025. Participants are exploring practical mechanisms for joint action in the modern information environment, including media literacy initiatives, information security protocols, and responsible use of digital technologies.

Azerbaijan’s delegation included prominent representatives from various media and government institutions, including Ahmad Ismayilov, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency, and several other officials from media relations departments and news agencies.

The timing of this forum is particularly significant as disinformation has become a growing concern globally, with hybrid threats increasingly targeting not just state security but also public perception and regional stability. As Musayev warned, “The security of every individual, every mind, every soul is now at stake.”

Azerbaijan’s emerging role as a hub for global discourse on disinformation was emphasized by Musayev’s reference to the recent third global media forum held in Shusha, a city with symbolic importance after being liberated from occupation.

The forum represents a concrete step toward implementing coordinated responses to disinformation campaigns across the Turkic world, focusing not only on countering false narratives but also on promoting “media hygiene” and critical thinking skills among their populations.

“If our society cannot distinguish truth from falsehood, we risk losing the war for consciousness,” Musayev concluded, highlighting the existential nature of the information challenges facing these nations and their collective determination to address them.