Russian cyber-terror hits Azerbaijan

A senior Azerbaijani official has accused Russia of orchestrating a cyberattack against several of the country’s media outlets in February.

Ramid Namazov, who chairs the Azerbaijani parliament’s commission on countering external interference and hybrid threats, said the attack on 20 February was carried out by APT29, a sophisticated cyber-espionage group linked to Russian intelligence.

Also known as Cozy Bear, Midnight Blizzard, or The Dukes, the group is believed to be behind numerous high-profile cyber operations targeting governments, diplomatic missions, and media organisations.

Speaking during a public discussion on cybersecurity, Mr Namazov described the attack as “highly technical” and said it undermined the spirit of cooperation outlined in the Declaration on Allied Interaction between Azerbaijan and Russia.

He suggested the motive may have been political, linked to the closure of the Russian cultural centre “Russian House” in Azerbaijan, which lacked legal registration, and discussions surrounding the potential shutdown of the Russian state media outlet Sputnik’s bureau in the country.

“These developments appear to have triggered a politically motivated act of cyber interference,” Mr Namazov said.