Anti-Armenian provocations and anti-Russian propaganda in Azerbaijan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan recently stated that by deploying armed forces in Karabakh, Armenia contradicts the provisions of the trilateral statement signed on November 10, 2020 by the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia, as well as the Prime Minister of Armenia. The MFA added that the deployment of Armenian forces on the «internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan» without the consent of Baku allegedly violates the «norms and principles of international law», in particular, sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of international borders.

The military-political leadership of Azerbaijan, even months after the signing of the above-mentioned cease-fire statement, is purposefully and systematically trying to present Armenia in international structures as an aggressor. At the same time, by constantly talking about «Armenian revanchism», Baku is preparing an informational, moral and legal basis for further unleashing military actions against Armenia and Karabakh. In particular, the response of the Armenian side to any provocation of Azerbaijan can be presented to the international community as a «manifestation of Armenian revanchism» with all the consequences arising from them. 

In Azerbaijan, the opposition criticizes the authorities, while at the same time there is an increase in anti-Russian sentiment. The thesis is being actively discussed that Russia is consistently strengthening its positions in Karabakh and does not intend to leave from these territories for the long term, which, in turn, excludes the «complete restoration of the territorial integrity» of Azerbaijan.This is quite interesting from the point of view that there is simply no opposition in Azerbaijan as a separate and independent institution: all political factions are under the cover of the implacable state machine, some of them have even expressed a desire to unite with the center-right ruling pro-presidential «Yeni Azerbaijan» party.

Another reason for Baku’s discontent was the recent initiative to give the Russian language an official status in Karabakh. This was regarded in the socio-political circles of Azerbaijan as a «new provocation with far-reaching goals. «Azerbaijani sources emphasize that unlike Baku, there is no dissatisfaction in Yerevan with the Russian peacekeepers, and the Armenian side is trying to please them as much as possible, since their presence in Karabakh allegedly allows the Armenians to maintain the existence of a «separatist regime» there.

At the same time, it is doubtful that the Azerbaijani opposition circles, referring to the Turkish media, note the likelihood of a resumption of hostilities. Perhaps this is another episode of informational and psychological pressure initiated by the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem.