Anti-Azerbaijani sentiment emerges in Turkey, analyst says

An unusual wave of criticism targeting Azerbaijan and its President Ilham Aliyev has recently emerged in Turkey, according to geopolitical strategist and Turkey expert Varuzhan Geghamyan.

Writing on social media on Saturday, Geghamyan said that amid tensions surrounding Iran, representatives of various public groups in Turkey have begun criticizing Azerbaijan, portraying Aliyev as “a friend and ally of Israel”. He added that even some pro-government media outlets in Turkey have echoed similar narratives.

The debate has spread widely across Turkish social media platforms, where many users have been sharing personal stories describing negative experiences in their interactions with Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis.

Some posts accuse the government in Baku of corruption and claim that Turkish companies operating in Azerbaijan have been subjected to additional illegal “taxes,” Geghamyan said. Others argue that “Azerbaijan’s policy should be determined not in Tel Aviv but in Ankara,” reflecting criticism of Baku’s ties with Israel.

According to the analyst, these claims have not gone unanswered, as Azerbaijani users have pushed back against the allegations online.

“The development does not indicate that Turkey and Azerbaijan are no longer strategic partners. However, it is notable in terms of public perceptions and the mechanisms of mutual influence between the two societies,” Geghamyan said.