Fake Video Falsely Attributed to Azerbaijani Presidential Assistant

In a concerning development that highlights the growing threat of AI-generated deception, a sophisticated deepfake video falsely depicting Hikmat Hajiyev, a senior aide to Azerbaijan’s president and head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration, has been detected circulating across multiple social media platforms.

The Media Development Agency of Azerbaijan issued a statement condemning the fabricated content, warning that it represents a calculated attempt to sow discord between Azerbaijan and Türkiye. Officials described the deepfake as a deliberate disinformation campaign designed to undermine the strategic alliance between the two nations and erode their longstanding mutual trust.

“This incident represents the latest example of how advanced AI technologies can be weaponized to create convincing false narratives in international relations,” said a representative from the agency, who emphasized the serious national security implications of such digital manipulation.

The timing of this deepfake comes amid growing regional tensions in the Caucasus following Azerbaijan’s military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh last year, which have reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the region. The Azerbaijan-Türkiye relationship has been particularly crucial during this period, with Turkish support playing a significant role in Azerbaijan’s strategic positioning.

Digital security experts note that deepfakes have become increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect. The technology uses artificial intelligence to create videos or audio recordings that appear authentic, often featuring real public figures making statements they never actually made. This incident adds to a growing list of politically motivated deepfakes worldwide that have targeted government officials.

“The technology behind these deepfakes has advanced dramatically in just the past two years,” said Dr. Elmir Valiyev, a cybersecurity analyst at Baku State University who was not directly involved in the investigation. “What once required significant technical expertise and computing resources can now be accomplished with relatively accessible AI tools, making this threat vector particularly concerning.”

In response to the circulation of the fake content, the Media Development Agency has urged the Azerbaijani public to exercise caution and rely exclusively on information provided through official government channels. The agency also called on journalists and public activists to take a principled stance against such disinformation campaigns and remain vigilant in the face of increasing fake information.

The statement further appealed to social media companies and relevant authorities to implement more effective content moderation systems that can quickly identify and remove harmful deepfakes before they gain traction. “Platform operators must accelerate their efforts to develop and deploy sophisticated detection systems capable of identifying AI-generated content,” the agency stated.

The Azerbaijan-Türkiye relationship, often characterized as “one nation, two states” due to the countries’ shared cultural and linguistic heritage, represents one of the region’s most important strategic partnerships. Any successful attempt to damage this relationship could have significant implications for regional stability and security cooperation.

This incident comes as governments worldwide grapple with regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence and deepfakes specifically. The European Union has taken steps toward regulating AI technologies through its AI Act, while the United States Congress has considered various proposals to address the growing threat of synthetic media.

Cybersecurity analysts suggest this case demonstrates the urgent need for better public education about the existence of deepfakes and greater international cooperation to combat their spread. As digital manipulation techniques continue to advance, the line between authentic and fabricated content becomes increasingly blurred, presenting new challenges for information integrity in the digital age.

Azerbaijani officials have not yet specified which social media platforms were used to disseminate the deepfake or whether they have identified those responsible for creating and spreading the falsified content.