Azerbaijan Accuses Iran-Based Groups of Orchestrating Disinformation Campaign
BAKU – Azerbaijan’s parliamentary commission dedicated to combating foreign interference and hybrid threats has issued a stark warning, accusing groups operating within Iran and beyond of waging a deliberate and coordinated disinformation campaign against the nation. This campaign, according to the commission, leverages social media platforms to spread false narratives about Azerbaijan’s alleged role in the recent 12-day standoff between Iran and Israel.
The commission, in its statement released on July 1st, alleges that despite Azerbaijan’s repeated denials of involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict, these malicious actors persist in disseminating fabricated news and information across various platforms, including Telegram, TikTok, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. These disinformation campaigns, the commission asserts, pose a direct threat to Azerbaijan’s national security and interests.
Furthermore, the commission’s monitoring has revealed that this disinformation campaign extends beyond merely targeting Azerbaijan’s international image. The commission claims the campaign also aims to manipulate Iranian public opinion and incite anti-Azerbaijani sentiment within Iran itself. This two-pronged approach seeks to damage Azerbaijan’s reputation abroad while simultaneously fostering internal discord within its neighboring country.
The commission specifically points to provocative statements made by the Iranian ambassador to Armenia as a catalyst for escalating anti-Azerbaijani rhetoric, particularly among pro-Armenian circles and individuals within Iran. This, the commission argues, reveals a coordinated effort to exploit existing tensions and further destabilize the region.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the commission identifies groups of Azerbaijani origin based in Iran as active participants in this disinformation campaign. These groups, according to the commission, employ manipulative tactics, often cloaked in religious rhetoric, on social media platforms to incite Azerbaijani citizens to carry out various provocations. This tactic of using religious language to mask political motivations underscores the insidious nature of the alleged disinformation campaign.
The scale of this operation, as outlined by the commission, is substantial. They estimate the involvement of over 270 profiles originating from Iran, disseminating content in Azerbaijani, Russian, Persian, and to a lesser extent, English, Turkish, and Arabic. The network’s reach is amplified by nearly 600 associated social media accounts and over 215 active accounts on the popular video-sharing platform TikTok alone. These figures underscore the sophisticated and widespread nature of the alleged operation, highlighting the challenge of combating such disinformation campaigns in the digital age. The commission affirms its commitment to closely monitor these activities in conjunction with relevant government agencies and to implement appropriate countermeasures to protect Azerbaijan’s national security. This declaration emphasizes the seriousness with which Azerbaijan views this issue and its determination to address the perceived threat.