BBC Accused of Whitewashing Azerbaijani Autocracy

Following the release of the film "Wonders of Azerbaijan," the BBC has been accused of whitewashing the Azerbaijani autocracy. The film is reported to have been produced with the support of the ruling family in Azerbaijan and funded by the British oil and gas giant British Petroleum (BP), as reported by Baghramyan26.

Viewers of BBC World News were promised that in the BP-sponsored film "Wonders of Azerbaijan," they would learn how "Azerbaijan's oil wealth has allowed the capital Baku to flourish" and "earned it the reputation as the Paris of the East." BP spent £300,000 (1 British Pound = 469.42 AMD) on the film, which was created by the British company SandStone Global with support from a foundation and media center run by members of the ruling Aliyev family in Azerbaijan.

The film indirectly promotes Azerbaijan's claims over Shushi, a city located in the contested area of Nagorno-Karabakh, which Azerbaijan took from Armenians during the second Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020. BBC World News aired the two-part program to viewers outside the UK back in August, during the same week that UK viewers watched extensive BBC coverage of the energy crisis and rising household fuel prices.

Each of the film's two episodes was broadcast five times globally towards the end of August but was not aired in the UK. A spokesperson for SandStone Global told openDemocracy that obtaining support from local organizations is a standard practice for them. The Baku Media Center provided logistical support to SandStone, while the Heydar Aliyev Foundation helped the British company obtain filming permits and access unique heritage sites. The Baku Media Center is run by Ilham Aliyev's youngest daughter, Arzu Aliyeva.

BP supported the project in collaboration with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, presided over by Ilham’s wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, who is also the country's vice president. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been tasked with promoting Azerbaijan's image abroad, including advocating the government's stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. However, critics of the government say that this effort aims to distract from the regime's ruthless repression of dissent and systemic corruption.

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has not responded to such remarks. It is worth noting that the film "Wonders of Azerbaijan," which did not address either the history of Nagorno-Karabakh or the connection of Shushi to Armenia, was aired in the last week of August.