BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 10. The Baku Network
Research and Analysis Public Association has held another event
within the framework of the “Promoting Awareness and Vigilance
Regarding Hybrid Threats and Disinformation” project with the
support of the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental
Organizations, Trend's correspondent reports from the event.
The event was attended by students from various higher education
institutions of the country, public activists, bloggers, media
representatives, and influential intellectuals.
Opening the event with an introductory speech, Deputy Director
of Trend News Agency, trainer-expert of the project, Sahil Karimli,
said that the goal of the project is to strengthen awareness among
young people, public representatives, and experts in the fight
against harmful external influences and fake news.
According to him, in recent times, foreign influences aimed at
weakening national moral values, the family institution, and the
principles of statehood have been observed against Azerbaijan, and
society should be more vigilant against these attempts.
Speaking later, Chairman of the Baku Network Research and
Analysis Public Association and head of the project, Elchin
Aghajanov, said that the fight against hybrid threats no longer
requires slogans, but professional and systematic action.
He noted that Baku Network cooperates with 28 leading research
and study institutes in the world and contributes to strengthening
Azerbaijan's position in the information space by preparing
analytical materials in 8 languages every day.
Aghajanov emphasized that in modern times, the concept of "fake
news" is being replaced by the concept of "hybrid news". According
to him, manipulation is no longer carried out only by spreading
false information, but also by taking facts out of context or
presenting them incompletely.
He added that such information manipulations are also used
against Azerbaijan on various international platforms, and prompt,
fact-based responses should be given to this.
The project head said that it is important to strengthen
coordination between state bodies, non-governmental organizations,
the media, and the expert community in the fight against hybrid
threats.
According to him, the creation of a single analytical and
communication mechanism in this area, prompt response to
disinformation spread on social networks, and more active
involvement of young specialists in this process should be one of
the main priorities.
Then, President of the International Eurasian Press Fund (IEPF)
Umud Mirzayev, political experts and analysts - Ali Mustafayev,
Fikrat Sadigov, Mushfig Alasgarli, Rashad Bayramov, and others made
speeches and voiced their opinions on the topic. The event
continued with student discussions.
