Azerbaijan summoned Russia’s ambassador in Baku on Tuesday to protest what it described as a series of “provocative, insulting and threatening” statements targeting the country, its people and its leadership in Russian media and the wider information space.
In a statement, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said Ambassador Mikhail Yevdokimov was specifically confronted over statements made against Azerbaijan and its leadership during a broadcast last week as part of the “Chistota Ponimaniya” project.
The ministry also cited a program broadcast on Russia’s Sputnik radio on August 7 that repeated what Baku called “absurd claims” about Azerbaijan’s leadership being included on Russia’s list of terrorists and extremists.
It further pointed to what it described as provocative statements made against Azerbaijan’s leadership on the Russian television channel Spas on August 16.
According to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, discussions about possible interference in Azerbaijan’s domestic political processes, as well as calls for physical violence against the country and its leadership, are “unacceptable.”
Baku said it had repeatedly urged Moscow to take action against such activities and had raised the issue at various political levels. However, the continued use of increasingly aggressive rhetoric was described as a “serious cause for concern.”
“During the meeting, our expectation that urgent and effective measures be taken to end provocations, threats and violent rhetoric against Azerbaijan in the information space and media was once again conveyed to the Russian side,” the ministry said.
The diplomatic protest comes amid growing tensions between Baku and Moscow, with Azerbaijan increasingly objecting to what it views as hostile rhetoric and attempts to interfere in its domestic affairs.
