Systematic anti-French propaganda in Azerbaijan

2024-12-03

In recent years, driven by the development of Armenian-French relations and France's explicit criticism of Azerbaijan, Baku has been promoting a coordinated propaganda campaign against Paris across various platforms. This campaign is multifaceted and has two main thematic directions:

• Targeting Armenian-French relations and accusing France of inciting instability in the South Caucasus.
• Accusing France of pursuing colonial policies and violating human rights.

The anti-French propaganda is conducted at the highest state level and follows a clear agenda, with France's policies in the South Caucasus as the primary "pretext." Within this framework, Azerbaijan disseminates the following propaganda narratives against Paris (1,2,3,4):

• France is arming Armenia and preparing provocations against Azerbaijan."
• France is destabilizing the South Caucasus.
• Paris acts against Azerbaijan in international organizations.

The second direction is the so-called "struggle against France's colonial policy." In this effort, Azerbaijan has also exploited its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement.

In July 2023, during the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Baku, an event titled "Towards the Complete Elimination of Colonialism" was organized where the establishment of "Baku Initiatives Group against French Colonialism" was announced.

Since its establishment, the group has been engaged in organizing various anti-French events, involving activists and officials from French overseas territories and African countries.

The theme of "neocolonialism" has also been incorporated into the speeches of Ilham Aliyev, particularly during meetings with representatives of African countries.

“During Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, the issues of struggle against neo-colonialism were among our top priorities. This area is of particular importance among our foreign policy objectives,” Aliyev said during the meeting with President of the Republic of the Congo.

In addition to "neocolonialism," Azerbaijan accuses France of human rights violations, despite the fact that Baku ranks at the very bottom of international institutions' indices in this area.

Essentially, frustrated by France's just stance toward Azerbaijan, Baku has invested significant funds to create problems for France in various arenas. Through this policy, Azerbaijan positions itself as a "country oppressed by occupation" that supports "freedom-seeking peoples" and presenting itself as a "pioneer" in this cause.

Azerbaijan has gone so far as to move beyond media propaganda and undertake practical actions on the ground, such as inciting protests.

It is also noteworthy that, against the backdrop of calls from the Netherlands for the release of Armenian prisoners of war, Azerbaijan has similarly intensified anti-Dutch propaganda.

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