A Message from Artsakh Regarding the Azerbaijani Journalist's Entry to Aghavno and Berdzor

The Security Council of Artsakh has issued a statement in response to inaccuracies found in a media publication. On August 18, 2022, the Armenian electronic media outlet "168.am" published an article titled "This is another piece of Azerbaijani disinformation, it does not correspond to reality," where the intent of Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev's presence and journalistic activities in the cities of Berdzor and the village of Aghavno was questioned.

The inquiry was made via a phone call by a journalist from "168.am" seeking to clarify whether Fatullayev's group was currently in Aghavno, a location still inhabited by Armenians, or if it was another instance of Azerbaijani disinformation. In response, the spokesperson for the Security Council secretary stated, "Yes... they like to use such things," alluding to the provocative disinformation tactics frequently found in Azerbaijani media.

Although the literal interpretation of the spokesperson's response may give the impression that the official is denying the presence of Azerbaijani journalists within the territory of the Republic of Artsakh, the actual purpose of answering the question in such a manner pertains to the fakes produced and disseminated by Azerbaijani media operatives.

On August 18, on behalf of the Secretary of the Security Council of Artsakh, the Security Council office responded to inquiries presented by the media. Specifically addressing the questions regarding the activities of Azerbaijani journalists in the Kashatagh region of the Republic, it was noted that the Secretary of the Security Council had approached the commander of the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in the Republic and demanded to prohibit the entry of Azerbaijani and other foreign mass media into the peacekeeping responsibility zone without the approval of the Security Council of Artsakh and the peacekeeping forces.