Paris: The Media Development Agency has issued a strong condemnation of what it describes as a smear campaign by certain French media outlets against Azerbaijan. The agency claims that these outlets have published one-sided, manipulative, and misleading materials regarding an ordinary criminal incident, which is a common occurrence in France. These reports, the agency asserts, are aimed at distorting public opinion and damaging Azerbaijan’s international image.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the statement from the Media Development Agency highlights that the selective framing of events before and after court proceedings, along with the sensationalism surrounding the trial, indicates a politically motivated context. The agency accuses certain French media organizations of attempting to politicize the criminal case in a biased manner by involving the names of some Azerbaijani officials, as part of a systematic smear campaign against Azerbaijan.
The agency further claims that media outlets such as Revue21, TV5 Monde, Le Figaro, and Le Monde, known for their proximity to French state circles, are involved in this campaign due to malicious intent from groups concerned about Azerbaijan’s growing international influence. The agency criticizes these outlets for violating universally accepted standards of journalistic ethics and being instruments of an organized political campaign.
The statement concludes by asserting that associating a crime with the perpetrator’s national affiliation more than the act itself promotes stereotypes and discrimination, rather than the rule of law. The Media Development Agency condemns the smear campaign as incompatible with the principles of professional journalism.