The demonstration of a distorted map of Azerbaijan on the "Vremya Pokazhet" (Time Will Tell) program aired on Russia's state-owned Channel One on May 6 is a serious provocation and unacceptable political manipulation. The map included the fictitious and non-existent term "Nagorno-Karabakh," which contradicts the current geopolitical reality of the region.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Aykhan Hajizada, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan, made these remarks while responding to inquiries from local media outlets.
Hajizada emphasized that Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity have been fully restored, a reality recognized by the international community, including the Russian Federation. "The circulation of outdated, fake, and separatism-promoting narratives on the state television of the Russian Federation—which has repeatedly declared its respect for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty—clearly contradicts the spirit of Azerbaijan-Russia relations, mutual respect, and neighborly ties," the spokesperson stated. He added that the irresponsible and biased approach of state-owned media resources is unacceptable, and Baku expects a clear explanation from the Russian side, as well as necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
This diplomatic protest follows Azerbaijan's full restoration of sovereignty over its territories in the Garabagh region. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has consistently maintained that the former conflict is resolved and that international borders must be respected. Relations between Baku and Moscow are governed by the Declaration on Allied Interaction signed in 2022, which mandates mutual respect for territorial integrity and the prevention of activities that undermine each other's sovereignty.
