Azerbaijan Urges Turkey Not to Cross Red Lines

Azerbaijan’s news agency has issued a statement, as reported by APA. “In recent months, the number of false and distorted news about Azerbaijan in Turkish media has increased. It is now very difficult to believe that this is a coincidence or a personal initiative of any media regulator. Previously, we considered this a provocation by some media organization or specific forces, but now we believe that it is being done deliberately.

Despite continuous denials and statements from the Azerbaijani side, the circulation of fake news continues. This month, the 'campaign of fake news' has escalated. Fake news with the headline 'If Israel is not at Eurovision 2026, we won’t be either' started circulating in some Turkish media and social networks on behalf of the Azerbaijani state. Initially, this information spread on Turkish websites, but our colleagues in Turkey did not remain inactive. This fake news was disseminated on more well-known sites and then discussed in television debates. Azerbaijan's news agency issued a statement declaring this news as false.

Our Turkish colleagues continued. This time, during the press conference of the 'Junior Eurovision' song competition, in response to inquiries from Azerbaijani media, the organizing committee reiterated that there had been no such discussion nor decision. This is fake news.

After this announcement, the Turkish newspapers 'Hürriyet' and 'Sabah' repeated the same untruth. In Turkey, Azerbaijan, and probably worldwide, everyone knows that the 'Sabah' and 'Hürriyet' newspapers, as well as the television channels discussing this fake news, are close to the current Turkish government. Respect for red lines is crucial; what Azerbaijani media knows and what they find out during investigations can always create a sensation. Today, Azerbaijani media serve as an independent reference source for foreign sources.

However, Azerbaijan has always managed to protect red lines both in state and media policy. It is advisable for Turkey to approach this matter sensitively as well. Otherwise, Turkish media could completely lose their positions in Azerbaijan due to baseless, fake news,” the statement concluded.