Expert blog: Azerbaijani defense ministry tries to refute the irrefutable

Azerbaijani mass media reported on November 8 that a tank slammed into a bus stop near Milabad village in Beylagan province, damaging two parked cars and pushing them into a canal. After the collision, the tank also overturned and fell into the canal.

Despite the fact that in parallel with the mass media reports, photos taken by witnesses also appeared on social sites, the Azerbaijani defense ministry a few days later issued a statement that contained not explanations, but threats against the mass media outlets that had disseminated that information.

The Azerbaijani defense ministry called upon them to apply to the ministry for ‘exact information’ instead of spreading ‘misinformation’ – even though after the incident the ministry was in an ‘inaccessibility zone’.

At first the defense ministry of Azerbaijan tried to suppress the fact of the road accident caused by the tank. Immediately after the accident, ministry and police officials cordoned off the area, impeding journalists’ work. If nothing happened, then why was the area cordoned off and photos posted by witnesses?

It is no accident that following the statement, the defense ministry’s press service became a laughing stock. Azerbaijani mass media said that despite expectations, the changes in the ministry’s press service produced no results and that structure carries on the ‘best traditions’ of its predecessors.

The abovementioned incident clearly demonstrates the work methods of Azerbaijani propaganda when Azerbaijan’s state bodies try to refute the irrefutable and conceal obvious facts.