Notable Journalist Neil Howser Added to Azerbaijan's Blacklist: His Response

The Center for Analysis of International Relations in Azerbaijan has published a report listing media outlets, organizations, journalists, and other influential individuals accused of conducting "anti-Azerbaijani propaganda". In reality, these figures are simply attempting to cover events objectively.

Among those labeled as enemies of Azerbaijan are American journalist Lindsay Snell, allegedly seeking revenge against Azerbaijan for her arrest in Turkey; Michael Rubin, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, who is noted for frequently mentioning the widely circulated but false historical assumption that Stalin handed Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan; former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans; Sonya Schifers, head of the South Caucasus bureau of the German independent NGO Heinrich Böll Foundation; Viola von Cramon, a member of the European Parliament; Open Caucasus Media; opendemocracy.net; Latvian political scientist Eldar Mamedov; the online magazine Quincy Institute Responsible Statecraft; Blankspot.se; Swedish investigative journalist Rasmus Canbeck; Der Spiegel; and Canadian journalist and analyst Neil Howser, who reportedly does not understand the difference between bombings within and outside the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Regardless, journalist Neil Howser has responded to this decision, stating, "It is a great honor for me to be listed as one of the most hated journalists by the Azerbaijani government. When one of the world's most horrendous dictatorships disrespects you, you know you are doing something right."