Zakharova disavowed the propagandists - Baku recalled her appearance on their show
Statements by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova that the remarks of Russian journalists placed on a wanted list by Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General's Office do not reflect Moscow's position raise serious questions.
Political analyst Eldar Namazov wrote about this on his official Facebook page, 1news.az reports.
Earlier, Maria Zakharova, commenting on the situation surrounding the journalists accused by Baku of calling for the violent overthrow of the republic's constitutional order, called them “private individuals.” According to her, the statements of these media figures in no way reflect the official approaches of the Russian Federation to relations with Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani expert called such a reaction an “expected brush-off” and drew attention to a significant contradiction in the actions of the representative of the diplomatic agency.
“The dirty anti-Azerbaijani program aired in mid-July. And at the beginning of August, three weeks later, Maria Zakharova comes as a guest to those very journalists, on that very program, on that very YouTube channel as a guest of honor. It is unnecessary to point out that the press secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry does not go on the programs of some private, unknown individuals — only to her own, privileged, trusted propagandists,” Namazov emphasized.
The political analyst wonders what exactly this visit was:
“And what was that? A reward for a well-executed assignment to ‘smear’ Azerbaijan? And where does the ‘private’ end and the ‘state’ begin? I would like ‘clarity of understanding’ on this issue...” the political analyst wrote.
As a reminder, on August 17 the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan placed three Russian citizens on the wanted list — journalist Ivan Knyazev, political consultant Semyon Uralov and journalist Alexei Chadayev. According to investigators, in broadcasts published on the internet they publicly called for violent actions against Azerbaijan, a change of the constitutional order, violation of territorial integrity, incitement of ethnic hatred, as well as terrorism.
Subsequently, Russia's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Yevdokimov was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.
During the meeting, serious concern and a strong protest were conveyed to the Russian side in connection with the provocative, insulting and threatening statements recently voiced in Russia's media space against Azerbaijan, its people and leadership.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the remarks of the Russian citizens placed on the wanted list in Azerbaijan have nothing to do with Moscow's position in bilateral relations with Baku. “The opinions of the aforementioned private individuals cannot be regarded as a reflection of the Kremlin's official line regarding Azerbaijan,” Zakharova's statement said. The comment also notes that Moscow remains committed to constructive dialogue with Baku, and that the statements of those on the wanted list remain their personal position.
Read on the topic:
Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General's Office places three Russian citizens on wanted list
Baku calls on Moscow to put a stop to anti-Azerbaijani rhetoric
