Commission Chairman: Cyberattack on several Azerbaijani media outlets originated from Russia

The cyberattack on several Azerbaijani media outlets originated from Russia, according to MP Ramid Namazov, Chairman of the Temporary Commission against Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats at Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament), Report informs.

Hhen talking about the February 20 attacks on several media outlets during public discussions on "Cyberattacks on Azerbaijan's media outlets", he noted that the attack was carried out at a technically professional level.

"The cyberattack was carried out by a cyber-espionage group originating from Russia. Naturally, this causes regret," Namazov said.

The chairman also emphasized that this is also contrary to specific provisions of the Declaration on Allied Mutual Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia and the spirit of relations.

"As a result of the examination, both the technical methods used during the attack and the behavioral patterns determined that the attack belonged to the APT29 (Cozy Bear), or Comfortable Bear (other names include Midnight Blizzard, the Dukes), the group associated with Russia. This group is an organized team that carries out cyber operations of special importance. The activities of APT29, which is engaged in cyber espionage, mainly target government agencies, foreign diplomatic missions, as well as politics, defense, energy, media, and other critical areas," the MP explained.

He stated that as a result of cyber-psychological analyses, the motivation behind the attack also becomes clear.

"The motive was the Russian Information and Cultural Center – Russian House, which was not registered as a legal entity in our country and whose activities were terminated for seriously violating the requirements of legislation on February 3, and the representative office of Rossiya Segodnya (Sputnik) in Azerbaijan, which at that time was rumored to be liquidated. This politically motivated cyber intervention occurred precisely because of these processes," Namazov stated.