Targeted disinformation campaigns against Turkic-speaking countries can only be effectively countered through professional media solidarity and coordinated action, said Faig Mahmudov, Head of the International Relations and Analytics Department of APA Information Agency, during his speech at the Turkic States Forum on Combating Disinformation held in Ankara under the organization of the Communications Directorate of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Türkiye, APA reports.
He noted that one of the regrettable points is the recent spread of disinformation and fake news about Azerbaijan in some media outlets of brotherly Türkiye. According to Mahmudov, the dissemination of such information, based on unfounded claims and without consulting the official position of the Azerbaijani side, is met with concern in Azerbaijan.
“However, verifying information is not such a difficult process. By requesting Azerbaijan’s position on an issue, the spread of fake information can be easily prevented. In this process, it is possible to use the support of colleagues in Azerbaijan, including ours. The only requirement is that the goal is to disseminate accurate and objective information,” he stressed.
Mahmudov added that when such situations arise, Azerbaijan’s Media Development Agency, APA News Agency, and other domestic media outlets respond promptly by publishing clarifications. “If the official institutions of the countries where disinformation is spread take similar steps, false and misleading information can be neutralized in a timely manner, limiting its wide dissemination and the manipulation of public opinion,” he said.
Highlighting the deliberate and destructive nature of disinformation, Mahmudov emphasized the importance of solidarity in combating this threat. He recalled that the Azerbaijan–Türkiye Joint Media Platform was established in 2021, with one of its key objectives being joint efforts against disinformation in the international arena and the provision of accurate information to the global public.
According to Mahmudov, this platform could serve as a model for the creation of a common media platform among Turkic-speaking countries. Such an initiative would enable not only the sharing of knowledge, experience, and resources in the media sphere, but also coordinated action against disinformation.
“Turkic-speaking media outlets should form an information stance that supports each other, is based on the same factual database, and relies on mutual trust. Especially during crisis periods and on sensitive issues, a balanced and responsible approach based on verified information, free from emotions, is necessary. This is not the political position of the media, but solidarity arising from professional responsibility,” he added.
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