Azerbaijan Accuses Western Countries of Illegal Financing of Media Outlet

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he Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry announced it has summoned envoys from the United States, Germany, and France over allegations of their countries’ involvement in the “illegal financing operations” of a local media outlet, Abzas Media. The ministry contends that these actions constitute a violation of Azerbaijani law and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

During the meetings, Azerbaijan expressed “serious objection” to the financial interactions between the Abzas Media news portal and organizations registered in the aforementioned countries, specifically naming the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), FreedomNow, and the New Democracy Fund. According to the Foreign Ministry, these entities have illicitly transferred financial resources to support the activities of Abzas Media.

The Azerbaijani statement emphasized that under national law, the financing of local media by foreign individuals, legal entities, or state institutions is prohibited. The ministry also accused the embassies of the U.S., Germany, and France of engaging in activities that interfere with the internal affairs of Azerbaijan.

National sovereignty and foreign engagement

Azerbaijan has made it clear that it condemns these alleged activities and reserves the right to respond with appropriate measures in line with its national legislation. This situation underscores the tension between national sovereignty and foreign engagement, particularly in the realm of media and information.

Abzas Media has spotlighted the tension between media freedom and a nation’s control over its financial affairs. The case of Abzas Media underscores a broader debate about the extent to which Western nations should be involved in promoting “free” press. Baku views the western funding of media outlets as a violation of their financial sovereignty and an unwelcome intrusion into their domestic affairs.

The response from the embassies involved in these allegations, and the subsequent steps by the Azerbaijani government, will be closely watched. These developments could have significant implications for diplomatic relations.

The U.S. and France’s humanitarian and diplomatic backing for Armenia has been met with disapproval from Baku, with Azerbaijani officials claiming that such actions have “seriously damaged” the bilateral relationship. channel Kanal 13, on unrelated charges of unauthorized construction.

Giorgi Gogia, the associate Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, strongly condemned the actions of the Azerbaijani authorities, describing them as part of a “longstanding pattern” of pursuing punitive criminal charges against critics.

Source: Anadolu Agency and Human Rights Watch.