Azerbaijani parliamentary commission says France continues hybrid threats

The temporary commission of the Milli Majlis against foreign interference and hybrid threats (the Commission) has determined, as a result of monitoring and empirical analyses conducted within its powers, that the activities of the French Republic against the Republic of Azerbaijan, which include a wide range of components of hybrid threats, are still continuing.

Report informs that, especially after Azerbaijan's Victory in the Patriotic War in 2020, the French side, going beyond the diplomatic framework, has been trying to create hybrid threats against the country through various means, platforms and tools in order to secure its interests in the region that are contrary to international law.

The allegations that damage the fragile peace process currently observed between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the one-sided positions voiced in international institutions, and the ongoing trends in the French media and judicial-legal system give grounds to say that these threats are aimed at interfering in Azerbaijan's internal affairs, influencing its foreign policy course, weakening its position in the international arena and destabilizing the region.

The hybrid threats of the French state and actors linked to it mainly cover the following areas:

- Lawfare, that is, the exertion of pressure through legal means, by the repeated adoption, since November 2020, by both chambers of the French Parliament (the Senate and the National Assembly), of resolutions targeting Azerbaijan and opposing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan

Although these documents, used as a means of diplomatic and political pressure, have limited legal force, they are adopted with the aim of forming similar approaches against Azerbaijan in other countries where France's sphere of influence and the Armenian lobby are strong. Such one-sided and biased documents by parliaments serve to form a negative image of Azerbaijan in the international arena, weaken Azerbaijan's legitimate position and create artificial tension instead of contributing to peace and stability in the region.

- Active anti-Azerbaijani activities in international organizations and institutions and on regional platforms

After the Second Karabakh War, some French state officials, diplomats, parliamentarians and public figures used platforms such as the UN and its bodies, the institutions of the European Union (EU), especially the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, PACE, the OSCE, as well as the International Organization of La Francophonie, and made attempts to secure the adoption of decisions and documents contrary to Azerbaijan's interests. These steps were taken with the aim of isolating and discrediting Azerbaijan and excluding it from certain international cooperation frameworks, despite its actions being in line with international law.

- Formation of a negative image of Azerbaijan in the French media

The creation of a broad negative image of Azerbaijan in the French press has already become a continuous trend. The publication of nearly 40 anti-Azerbaijani articles and the preparation of dozens of television reports in the French media in May and June alone show the intensity of the negative propaganda. By disseminating biased, distorted and disinformation-based information against Azerbaijan, the French media has become an important front of hybrid threats.

- Direct interference in Azerbaijan's internal affairs by giving a one-sided platform in the French media to radical opposition figures

The French media gives broad coverage to articles and interviews by some radical opposition representatives who have no political weight either inside or outside Azerbaijan, creating conditions for the distortion of the real situation in Azerbaijan and for calls aimed at misleading French society. These steps, calculated to stimulate the activities of radicals against Azerbaijani statehood under the guise of media freedom, are an element that serves the goals of disrupting internal stability, as well as creating social dissatisfaction and polarization in the country. The fact that the materials, contrary to the principles of objective journalism, do not include the official position of the Azerbaijani state or alternative views once again proves that these activities are also being deliberately carried out to form a negative opinion about Azerbaijan in French society.

- Use of radical persons of Azerbaijani origin who have settled in France under the name of political asylum as tools of hybrid threats

The sole purpose of the continued support given to such persons by France's official and unofficial circles, the artificial and long-term keeping of their "violated rights" on the agenda through various means, and the promotion of politically motivated allegations under the guise of democratic values is to present the Azerbaijani state to the international community as a "repressive regime" and discredit it.

- Anti-Azerbaijani activities coordinated by the Armenian lobby

The anti-Azerbaijani activities of some state officials, parliamentarians and heads of local government bodies (mayors) in France, who are under the influence of the strong Armenian lobby, are regular in nature. Under the influence of the Armenian lobby, which has strong political and economic ties, French politicians often take pro-Armenian positions and act in a coordinated manner against Azerbaijan within the EU and international organizations. These activities are aimed at violating Azerbaijan's internationally recognized sovereignty and territorial integrity and create major tension in bilateral relations with France.

- Management of campaigns by pro-Armenian groups, France-funded international NGOs, "human rights" organizations and "investigative journalist" networks

One of the most widespread and influential elements of hybrid threats is information campaigns conducted through the media and social media. The above-mentioned groups, supported by France either directly or indirectly, conduct large-scale campaigns on various anti-Azerbaijani topics on online platforms. Through these campaigns, fake news, distorted facts and provocative information are disseminated. The aim is to damage the country's international image and create distrust toward Azerbaijan's state institutions. Bot networks and fake profiles also join these campaigns in an attempt to manipulate international public opinion about Azerbaijan.

- France's espionage activities in Azerbaijan

France, as an important part of its hybrid threat strategy, has also engaged in espionage activities aimed at undermining bilateral relations. This illegal activity was aimed at influencing processes in the region, studying Azerbaijan's internal political situation, economic development, military potential and strategic interests, as well as building agent networks consisting of citizens of Azerbaijan and other countries. The objectives included spreading disinformation inside the country, creating dissatisfaction among certain groups and carrying out other operations that would destabilize the situation.

- Sale of weapons to Armenia and support for the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA)

France's active transfer of weapons to Armenia and its direct support for EUMA, which is mainly engaged in intelligence activities in the region, turning it into its own tool, are assessed as steps aimed at changing the military balance in the South Caucasus, increasing tension and hindering the peace process. The Commission's special study titled "Hybrid attack on stability in the South Caucasus under the name of a 'peace mission,'" presented on April 24, 2025, provided detailed information on the issue.

(https://meclis.gov.az/documents/EUMA_aprel_2025.pdf)

The Commission against Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats, in coordination with the relevant state bodies, is successfully continuing its countermeasures to neutralize the impact of France's hybrid threats. It is precisely as a result of these measures and France's failed attacks that the other side resorts each time to new, unfriendly acts against Azerbaijan and puts forward fabricated accusations through various platforms.

Taking the above into account, the Commission considers it necessary to appeal directly not to France's state and government officials, but to the French people.

The listed facts also show that a number of French politicians and state structures prefer to create the image of an "external enemy" in the person of Azerbaijan in order to conceal society's distrust in political governance and divert attention from the grave socio-economic difficulties inside the country, while carrying out activities against the Azerbaijani state within the framework of non-transparent ties with the Armenian lobby that are incompatible with legal and ethical norms.

The Azerbaijani people have always considered the French people their friend and will continue to do so. Throughout its history of independence, the Azerbaijani state has always declared its readiness to build relations with the French Republic based on friendship, cooperation and mutual respect.

French society should know that such unfriendly activities by its government and its actions in foreign policy, instead of bringing political and economic dividends to France, tarnish and further damage its international image.