‘Diplomatic war’ continues: Azerbaijan blames Russian hackers for cyberattacks on local media
Azerbaijani officials claimed that the Russian state-sponsored hacker group APT29 was behind a cyberattack on several local media outlets earlier this year, The Record writes.
The likely motive, according to Ramid Namazov, head of the Azerbaijani parliament’s commission on countering hybrid threats, was retaliation for the closure of the Russian House state-funded cultural center in Baku and significant staff cuts at the Azerbaijani branch of Sputnik radio.
In February, the Azerbaijani government ordered the closure of the Russian House, citing its lack of legal registration and violations of national legislation. Local media also reported that the center had been involved in espionage activities on behalf of Russian intelligence. Russia dismissed the allegations as a “groundless” disinformation campaign.
Azerbaijani authorities cut the staff of the Kremlin-backed outlet Sputnik Azerbaijan from 40 to a single employee earlier this year, saying the move was aimed at “restoring balance” in the conditions under which Azerbaijani state media and foreign journalists operate in the country.
The cyberattack on Azerbaijani media took place on the morning of February 20. It initially targeted the internal servers of the Baku TV channel. According to local authorities, the attack aimed to spread disinformation and false news, disrupt media infrastructure and attempt to delete or alter information.
Namazov said the incident was “politically motivated.”
APT29, also known as Cozy Bear, BlueBravo or Midnight Blizzard, is reportedly affiliated with Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). The group is primarily engaged in cyber-espionage, targeting government agencies, foreign diplomatic missions, and organizations in the political, defense, energy and media sectors.
Tensions have escalated recently between Azerbaijan and Russia—partly due to Baku’s support for Ukraine. The December crash of Flight J2-8243, which Azerbaijan blamed on a Russian missile, also complicated the relationship.
