The World Needs Truth, Not False Narratives: Azerbaijan's Ambassador in France

“Instead of destabilizing the situation in our region, it is better to assist in establishing peace,” wrote Azerbaijan’s ambassador Leyla Abdulaeva on her Facebook page, responding to an article published in the French newspaper Le Figaro titled “A Large-Scale Attack by Baku to Discredit France.”

“You continue to act as if you don’t know that Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory. For the first time in a long time in the region, fair and sustainable peace is possible. The world needs truth, not false narratives,” Abdulaeva wrote.

Le Figaro specifically mentioned that the Caucasian country, led by the autocrat Ilham Aliyev, is increasing its informational manipulations to undermine Paris's reputation, which it cannot accept for supporting Armenians. Le Figaro emphasized that Baku has begun a witch hunt against France, recalling the detention of French businessman Martin Ryan on suspicion of spying in Baku.

France has labeled Ryan's detention as “arbitrary,” in response, Baku accused Paris of interfering in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs and called on it to cease such actions.

The diplomatic tension between Paris and Baku escalated last month when Azerbaijani authorities expelled two French diplomats from the country. In turn, France expelled two staff members of the Azerbaijani embassy.