Baku: ‘During monitoring carried out within its authority, the Temporary Commission of the Milli Majlis on Countering Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats (the Commission) has observed in recent days that a disinformation campaign targeting Azerbaijan, as well as the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan, is being conducted,’ APA reports.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, this is reflected in the statement of the Temporary Commission of the Milli Majlis on Countering Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats regarding the information campaign carried out against Azerbaijan by pro-Armenian circles. It was noted that during the investigations, it was determined that the campaign is being conducted in a targeted manner and around a unified thesis by Armenian lobby organizations operating in various countries of the world, foreign citizens holding certain influence and positions, as well as media outlets.
‘Armenian lobby organizations this time conducted the smear campaign by choosing a different tactic, creating hype around several issues, including the so-called ‘genocide,’ ‘prisoners of war,’ and buildings in the city of Khankendi. At the same time, in order for the issue not to appear as a coordinated campaign, facts were discovered indicating that theses were provided to participants through closed channels, email, and encrypted messaging platforms. Armenian lobby organizations based in the US, Europe, and Russia stood out with their particular activity in the campaign.
Analysis of the campaign over the past week on the X social media platform (formerly ‘Twitter’) showed that more than 220 posts were made through 130 different accounts as part of the disinformation campaign, with nearly one million total interactions (reactions) recorded. The posts were mainly shared from the accounts of bloggers of Armenian origin, Armenian news websites, as well as pro-Armenian foreign bloggers and activists.
In addition, similar articles based on the same theses have been published in several online media outlets located in foreign countries, although they are not particularly influential, including the US, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Poland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Georgia, Israel, the Vatican, Greece, India, Russia, Armenia, etc.
The facts identified by the Commission once again show that these circles, which place their personal interests above everything else and previously derived high dividends from the conflict, are trying to undermine the fragile peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and damage interstate relations by using all means, including their proxies in foreign parliaments, certain city mayors, and individuals who currently hold or previously held certain positions.