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On April 12th at 12:48 p.m., the English-language version of a rather obscure Azerbaijani website AzVision.az published a whiny and panicked article by an anonymous author entitled “President of Armenia Threatens Use of Nuclear Missiles.”

The article delivers the standard array of miscellaneous clichés and bears the stamp of Baku agitprop, such as: “Armenia long ago illegally laid claim to the Western Azerbaijani territories;” “The hostilities against Azerbaijan, including the 1992 massacre of 600 civilians;” and “WhileArmenians watched their leaders weaken the economy, Azerbaijan prospered,” and so on.

But all of this served only to cultivate the latest crop of fear, panic and feelings of utterhelplessness corresponding to the fact that Armenia possesses Iskander short-range ballistic missiles that can reach the entire territory of Azerbaijan and, actually, the lion’s share of the article is devoted to this fact.

“Armenia is the only nation that received Iskander missiles from Russia. Why Armenia?” -  asks the anonymous author, who then answers his own question: “Possibly due to the fact that ‘the vitally important infrastructure’ in Azerbaijan that could be targeted by the missiles includescompanies owned and run by Western organizations, among them American companies that ensure energy security in Europe.” The author declares the delivery of missiles to Armenia a “provocation,” adding: “It is in line with Moscow’s politics to deploy missiles across Eurasia and the Middle East to threaten Western interests.”

From this declaration, we are to understand that, according to the anonymous Azerbaijani author, the placement of Iskander missiles is in no way in answer to Baku's long-standing aggressive rhetoric, exacerbated in the past few years by regular bloody provocations on the borders, and which culminated in last years’ failed blitzkrieg attempt, rather it is in answer to Moscow’s threat to the notorious interests of the West!

The author proceeds to shed tears over the fact that Armenian Iskanders are capable of hittingtargets across the entire territory of Azerbaijan, including its capital reeking of black oil. Furthermore, he warns, “On top of everything, it is alarming that the missiles can carry nuclear warheads.” According to the author, the President of Armenia has alarmed Washington with the statement that, as commander in chief of its military, in case of emergency, he will give the order to use Iskanders without batting an eyelash. “Armenia can bring the region to the brink of a nuclear war,” he shrieks, calling these statements “frightening” and complaining that “Sargsyanrejects the suggestions by more sober Armenian leaders like ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan.” In addition to these “nightmares,” the author then ruminates on the joint Russian-Armenian air defense system.

“These are dangerous times for Azerbaijan and the whole region because of Armenia’s reckless ambitions to acquire these offensive weapons and use inflammatory rhetoric. Azerbaijanis both at home and in the U.S. have relied on America as a good friend and a strong ally. The world can only hope this relationship will continue under President Trump’s administration as well,” summarizes the author.

In general, this appears to be another panic-stricken article, of which there is no lack in post-Soviet Azerbaijan, just with a specific “pro-American” trend. This subtlety helps us understand what happens next. Twenty minutes after appearing on AzVision.az this article was republished word-for-word by News.az, yet another Azerbaijani site. Judging by the author’s signature, as its own independent anti-Armenian contribution.

Now, pay close attention as the most intriguing part of the story evolves. On April 17th, that very same article under a different title suddenly appears in “The Washington Times” (“Nuclear Alarm in Azerbaijan: Russian Missiles in Armenia Threaten Western Energy Interests”). This time the anonymous Azerbaijani propagandist out of the blue announces his name: Lloyd Green. Authorcredentials are listed under the article. Mr. Green is former Staff Secretary for George H.W. Bush in 1988, in the Middle East policy group, and from 1990 to 1992 was an employee of the Department of Justice. Currently, Mr. Green’s talents are employed by “The Daily Beast.” He exhibits unremarkable, mediocre, and even unattractive characteristics in a journalist. Apparently, it was these characteristics that played a key role in the selection of Mr. Green by Azerbaijani “Tolerance” operatives as the author of this libel about the Armenian nuclear threat.

The next day, on April 18th, the same News.az publishes its own article, this time referring to “The Washington Times,” with the title both disturbing and alarming – “WT: Sargsyan'sinflammatory rhetoric causes concern in Washington.” As one can see, the text is unchanged, but the phrase is repeated as in a song refrain to convince readers that the article has been produced not by the Azerbaijani propaganda, but by “The Washington Times.”

On that very day, this article, attributed to Lloyd Green, the new protégé of Baku crooks, is promptly translated into Russian by 1news.az. The authors – an Azerbaijani journalist Elena Ostapenko and an individual identified by initials I. A. – obligingly suggest that readersfamiliarize themselves with article’s “original version” published by “The Washington Times,” not mentioning out of modesty its true source. At the same time, the Russian text is promptly published by Russia’s “InoPressa” agency, specializing in translating articles that appear in foreign media.

Azerbaijani propaganda came up with this multi-move chess combination, involving as an accessory an unscrupulous American yellow journalist, ready to produce any libel and go out of his way to obtain an Azero-Turkish reward or, as in this case, to put under the shoddy and thoroughly misleading propaganda concoction his worthless signature. Of particular note is that this low-life Green feared smearing his own site “Daily Beast” by publishing malodorous products of the Azerbaijani propaganda, preferring to use to that end a third-party agency like “The Washington Times,” that had NEVER published his articles before. It is Green’s apparent attempt to cover up his traces.

In such cases the best way to punish the scammers and bribe-takers is to make sure that the potential mouthpiece of Azerbaijani-Turkish propaganda clearly realizes all consequences of his greedy desire to gain material rewards for calumnies.

I am not sure whether our colleagues in Armenia will join us but, rest assured, from now on all articles in “Voskanapat” that denounce and expose corrupt Western journalists will refer to the name of Lloyd Green as the epitome of dirty yellow journalism. May all those who dream about their moment of “glory” at the expense of the good name of our people never forget it.

Author: Pandukht