Azerbaijan Protests Polish TV Program on Diplomatic Grounds
Azerbaijan summoned Poland's ambassador to protest a TVP World program critical of Azerbaijan's internal affairs and leadership, calling it biased and damaging to bilateral relations. The program aired on August 26 and focused on the arrest of journalists and political repression.
Consensus
- Azerbaijan summoned Poland's ambassador, Pavel Radomsky, to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- A note of protest was handed to the Polish ambassador.
- The protest was due to a TVP World program titled 'Eastern Express' aired on August 26.
- The program was described as containing biased, non-objective, and unacceptable statements about Azerbaijan and its leadership.
- Azerbaijan criticized the broadcast on a state-funded Polish channel.
- Azerbaijan called the broadcast a hostile act that contradicts the spirit of partnership between the two countries.
- Azerbaijan urged Poland to take measures to stop such campaigns.
Points of divergence
- The program also criticized the host's behavior. — vedomosti
- Azerbaijan viewed the broadcast as occurring during the normalization process with Armenia and efforts toward regional peace. — vedomosti
- Azerbaijan filed a lawsuit against CNN on August 18 over an article about Israel using Azerbaijani territory in operations against Iran. — vedomosti
- The protest was linked to a drone strike on a SOCAR gas station in Ukraine on July 5, which prompted a similar protest against Russia. — vm
Coverage (3 sources)
- Ambassador of Poland handed protest note to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs over TVP World story — Вечерняя Москва
- Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Poland's ambassador over TVP World story — Ведомости
- Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Poland's ambassador over story criticizing the republic — Вести