Azerbaijan sends note of protest to Russia

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Russia sent an official note of protest to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia about the open anti-Azerbaijani speeches of Russian political scientists and experts of Armenian origin, questioning the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the distortion of the state map on the air of the Big Game show on the First Channel of Russia on October 20-21, 2022, Report informs, citing the embassy.

The note specifically emphasized that the guests of the show provoked the revanchist forces in the Armenian society to revive the conflict left in the past and, "by their open support to separatism, sowed the seeds of enmity between the two nations."

The embassy brought to the attention of the ministry that the biased statements and open political provocations on the state TV channel contradict the official position of Russia, which has been repeatedly voiced by the President of the Russian Federation and has been manifested in the support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Such statements and provocations also undermine the steps taken towards ensuring long-term peace, stability, and security in the region.

It was noted that in the conditions of the current fragile peace in the region, media representatives have a special responsibility for preventing provocations that could lead to tension and aggravate the situation.

The note also emphasized with regret that the host of the talk show and one of the direct participants of this "play" is Vyacheslav Nikonov, a member of the United Russia faction, the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs of the Russian Federation. Such behavior of the representatives of the ruling party of Russia runs contrary to the spirit of the Azerbaijan-Russia strategic partnership and alliance interaction, and significantly harms bilateral relations.

The Embassy again drew the attention of the Russian side to the fact that the relevant provisions of the Declaration on Allied Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation dated February 22, 2022 contain a call to refrain from any actions that are detrimental to strategic partnership, allied relations and from activities directed against state sovereignty , independence and territorial integrity of states, and also provide for joint efforts in countering separatism.

The Azerbaijani side demanded that the Russian side take immediate measures to stop the provocative actions of Russian media representatives and prevent their repetition in the future.