The Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan has issued a formal statement condemning the decision by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence to designate AzTV, the state television channel of Azerbaijan, as a "hostile media entity." The agency expressed deep concern over threats of criminal prosecution directed at individuals who cooperate with the Azerbaijani broadcaster.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the agency emphasized that Azerbaijan remains committed to protecting the professional activities of journalists while strictly adhering to the principle of reciprocity in international relations. The statement highlights that under Article 11.4 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Media," if other states impose specific restrictions on Azerbaijani journalists, Azerbaijan reserves the right to apply reciprocal measures against journalists from those respective countries.
In response to these developments, the agency declared that the operations of certain Iranian media outlets—specifically the "Sahar" television channel and the "Mehr" news agency—are considered illegal within the territory of Azerbaijan. These outlets are accused of conducting propaganda against the sovereignty, constitutional order, territorial integrity, and national security of Azerbaijan. The agency has called on all media entities and journalists in Azerbaijan to refrain from cooperating with these Iranian organizations, stressing that international media cooperation must be based on mutual respect and the professional independence of journalists.
This diplomatic friction reflects broader tensions in bilateral relations, where media narratives often serve as a barometer for political discourse. Azerbaijan has consistently maintained that its media landscape operates on principles of national security and sovereignty, rejecting external attempts to censor or intimidate its state-run information channels.
