Foreign Ministry: Distorted Map of Azerbaijan Broadcast on Russian State TV Is a Serious Provocation
Baku, The Gulf Observer: The Republic of Azerbaijan has strongly condemned the display of a distorted map during the “Vremya Pokazhet” programme aired on 6 May by Russia’s state-owned Channel One, describing it as a “serious provocation” and an “unacceptable act of political manipulation.”
In a statement responding to media inquiries, Aykhan Hajizada, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, said the broadcast included references to the so-called “Nagorno-Karabakh,” which he described as a non-existent entity.
Hajizada stressed that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan have been fully restored and are recognized by the international community, including the Russian Federation. He noted that repeated statements from the Russian side affirming respect for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty stand in contradiction to the content aired on the state television channel.
“The dissemination of outdated, false, and separatism-promoting narratives on a Russian state television channel is in stark contradiction to the spirit of Azerbaijan–Russia relations, as well as the principles of mutual respect and good-neighbourly ties,” he said.
The spokesperson further stated that such conduct by a state-owned media outlet is unacceptable and called on the Russian side to provide a clear explanation and take appropriate measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Azerbaijan emphasized that the issue undermines the spirit of bilateral relations and expects responsible action from the relevant Russian authorities regarding the matter.
