Zakharova Responds to Azerbaijan's Unfriendly Rhetoric

There are regularly materials in the information space of Azerbaijan featuring unfriendly rhetoric towards Moscow. This was stated by Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

According to her, Moscow has repeatedly offered Baku to discuss issues of informational cooperation within the framework of specialized consultations. The Russian side hopes that such dialogue will be successful without politicization and undue media attention, the diplomat added.

Zakharova also commented on the Azerbaijani authorities' decision to issue international warrants for Russian journalists Ivan Knyazev, Semyon Uralov, and Alexey Chadaev.

“The statements of these individuals do not reflect Moscow's stance towards Azerbaijan in any way. We believe that Russian-Azerbaijani relations should develop based on the existing bilateral legal framework,” noted the Foreign Ministry representative. She also emphasized that Russia will, if necessary, defend the legal rights and interests of its citizens in connection with the decision of Azerbaijan's General Prosecutor's Office.

Previously, on August 17, Azerbaijan had issued a warrant for Russian journalists Ivan Knyazev, Semyon Uralov, and Alexey Chadaev on charges of public calls for terrorism, violent change of the constitutional order, and violation of the country's territorial integrity.

On August 18, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russian ambassador Mikhail Yevdokimov, expressing a “decisive protest” against statements made by Russian media that were deemed “provocative, offensive, and threatening.”