Azerbaijan Warns of Coordinated Disinformation Campaign Against Alliance with Turkey

Azerbaijan has issued a formal warning about a coordinated disinformation campaign targeting the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Türkiye. The country’s Media Development Agency (MEDIA) identified Russian-language online platform “Tsargrad.tv” as the source of false information being spread across foreign news outlets and social media platforms.

According to MEDIA’s statement, this campaign appears deliberately designed to create rifts in the longstanding alliance between the two nations. Initial investigations reveal that the disinformation operation relies on questionable sources and distorted facts specifically crafted to manipulate public opinion.

“We strongly condemn and emphasize that such disinformation acts aimed against Azerbaijan, which seek to confuse public opinion with false and manipulative content, and which serve to target the brotherly and allied relations existing between Azerbaijan and Türkiye, are unacceptable,” the agency declared in its official statement.

The timing of this disinformation campaign comes during a period of strengthened cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye. Following Azerbaijan’s victory in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in which Türkiye provided significant political and military support, the two countries have deepened their strategic partnership across multiple sectors including energy, defense, and trade.

Regional analysts note that the Azerbaijan-Türkiye alliance has significantly altered the geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus, potentially unsettling neighboring powers with historical interests in the region. This context may explain the motivation behind targeted information operations.

MEDIA has called on journalists and media organizations in both countries to maintain vigilance and uphold professional ethics when reporting on bilateral relations. The agency specifically urged media professionals to verify information through official channels before publication and to exercise responsibility in protecting the information space from manipulation.

The statement also included a direct appeal to citizens of both nations, advising them to remain skeptical of unverified reports and to rely exclusively on official statements from authorized government sources when consuming news about Azerbaijan-Türkiye relations.

This incident highlights the growing challenge of information warfare in the region, where digital platforms can be weaponized to influence public perception and potentially strain diplomatic relationships. Information security experts point out that disinformation campaigns targeting strategic alliances have become increasingly sophisticated, often blending factual elements with fabrications to create plausible-sounding narratives.

To counter such threats, MEDIA announced it has established enhanced cooperation with the Public Relations Department of the Turkish Presidential Administration. This partnership aims to coordinate responses to disinformation and develop joint strategies for protecting the information environment surrounding bilateral relations.

“Our partnership with Turkish counterparts will focus on early detection of false narratives and swift, coordinated responses to prevent the spread of harmful content,” a MEDIA representative explained in subsequent comments.

The Azerbaijan-Türkiye relationship, often characterized by the phrase “one nation, two states,” reflects deep historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between the countries. Any attempt to undermine this connection through information manipulation is viewed by both governments as a significant national security concern.

Security analysts suggest this incident demonstrates the evolving nature of threats facing regional alliances, where information operations can sometimes achieve strategic objectives without conventional military engagement. Both countries appear determined to strengthen their defenses against such non-traditional security challenges.