Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Yevdokimov to the ministry and raised several Russian broadcasts in the media and information sphere. The ministry said the broadcasts contained provocative and insulting statements, as well as threats, directed at Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani people and the country’s leadership.
Azerbaijan conveyed its serious concern and firm protest to Russia, arguing that the rhetoric had become harsher recently. The ministry also described as unacceptable the discussion of possible interference in the country’s domestic political processes and calls for physical violence against the Azerbaijani people and leadership.
Broadcasts and alleged list under scrutiny
The ministry’s statement focused in particular on statements about Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani people and the country’s leadership made during a program broadcast on August 13, 2026, as part of the “Purity of Understanding” project.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry also criticized statements made during a program broadcast on Sputnik radio on August 7 claiming that Azerbaijan’s leadership would be added to Russia’s so-called “list of terrorists and extremists.” The ministry said materials containing insults against Azerbaijan’s leadership and provocative statements were rebroadcast on YouTube on August 9 and on the Spas television channel on August 16.
Ministry calls for urgent measures
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said it had repeatedly called for similar activities to stop and that the issue had been addressed at various political levels. It said the same rhetoric had nevertheless continued.
Azerbaijan reiterated its expectation that Russia take urgent and effective measures to end provocative rhetoric, threats and calls for violence directed at Azerbaijan in the media and information sphere.
