The Russian state media agency TASS published a news report titled “Aivazovsky monument demolished in Stepanakert.” The presentation of the city of Khankendi as “Stepanakert” in the report is not only a terminological error, but also a deliberate, biased and dangerous information provocation.
This approach is in line with neither journalistic ethics, nor international law, nor the essence of the trilateral agreements signed between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia after 2020.
The toponym “Stepanakert” is a disrespect for the sovereignty of Azerbaijan
The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan are recognized by the international community, led by the UN, and state sovereignty was fully restored in Khankendi in September 2023. In this context, the fact that a state news agency from a country like Russia refers to terms used by separatists reveals official Moscow’s double standards and exposes an information policy directed against Azerbaijan.
It should be noted that the toponym "Stepanakert" was used during the Soviet era and later during the illegal rule of the separatist regime. The use of this name in official documents and news in modern times is a clear disrespect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
The harsh reaction of official Baku
The harsh reaction of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the aforementioned provocation by TASS is completely justified and appropriate.
“The reference to the city of Khankendi as “Stepanakert” by TASS, the official state news agency of the Russian Federation, is considered as an act of disrespect and insult to the territorial integrity of our country. We expect the Russian side to cease the distortion of Azerbaijani toponyms and the use of names adopted by the former separatist puppet regime to refer to our territories. If such actions continue, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, Azerbaijan may refer to various toponyms in Russia by their historical names. We expect an apology and an appropriate correction from the TASS News Agency on this matter. Otherwise, in accordance with the law, relevant measures will be taken regarding TASS’s operations in Azerbaijan,” the ministry said in its statement.
The apology is worse than the offense
After the harsh reaction from official Baku, the agency deleted the phrase and thought it had made a “correction” by using the term “Nagorno-Karabakh.” However, this “change” is neither acceptable to Azerbaijan nor compliant with international law.
Firstly, by addressing the city of Khankendi with a fictitious name, the Russian state, which recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, and its official news agency TASS, violated international law. Moreover, instead of rectifying the situation, they committed a new distortion by using the term “Nagorno-Karabakh,” which no longer exists and has been stripped of any legal status.
Information provocation against legal realities
It should be remembered that the administrative-territorial unit called "Nagorno-Karabakh" neither exists in Azerbaijan’s current administrative division nor in international legal documents. This term became a tool for manipulation by certain circles during the period when Russian peacekeepers were temporarily deployed. However, following the local anti-terror operations carried out in September 2023, Azerbaijan’s full sovereignty was restored, and all separatist structures in the region were dismantled.
TASS agency’s position, demonstrated through such changes, contradicts Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and directly serves as a tool in the information war. International media organizations, especially state-affiliated ones like TASS, should adopt an objective and law-based approach rather than manipulating official names and statuses for geopolitical interests. Otherwise, such behavior leads to the perception of the media not as a source of information but as an instrument of provocation.
Russia is waging war on the media
Professor Gulu Maharramli, a member of the Board of Directors of the Azerbaijani Press Council, assessed this action of TASS agency as a clear manifestation of the growing political tension and information warfare between Russia and Azerbaijan.
In his statement to APA, he noted that it is not surprising that the TASS agency initially referred to Khankendi as "Stepanakert" and later replaced this name with "Nagorno-Karabakh."
"Because such behavior is currently an expression of tense political relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, and it is a cold, psychological, and, most accurately put, information war waged by the Russian mass media against Azerbaijan. In general, the Russian ruling circles have never been sincere towards Azerbaijan in the context of Karabakh. On the one hand, they said that they recognized the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and on the other hand, they published the "Artsakh" encyclopedia and created the "Lazarev Club". They are taking serious steps to incite Armenian nationalism, and I believe that the current behavior is a continuation of this. It seems to me that if TASS continues to engage in such provocations, its activities in Azerbaijan should be stopped, banned, or restricted in the future. Similarly, the activities of Russian websites and television channels conducting an information war against Azerbaijan should be limited in the same way. After all, states must primarily respect each other’s territorial integrity and independence. If Russia does not do this, Azerbaijan should take reciprocal measures,” he emphasized.
TASS forced to backtrack
The Russian state news agency TASS was forced to make another correction after Azerbaijan’s justified discontent and harsh diplomatic reactions. Thus, TASS, which first presented Khankendi as “Stepanakert” and then as “Nagorno-Karabakh” in an article published on July 31, changed its headline again after serious dissatisfaction caused by these terms. Ultimately, TASS was compelled to use the city’s historic and internationally recognized name, Khankendi.
This incident showed that the principled position of Azerbaijani society and official circles effectively responds to attempts at information warfare. This step by TASS is not only a technical correction, but also another diplomatic victory for Azerbaijan’s information sovereignty. The name Khankendi is a symbol not only of a city, but also of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.
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