During a meeting with a German business delegation this week, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev complained of biased media coverage portraying his country as a dictatorship devoid of freedoms.

Aliyev specifically objected to German media depictions of Azerbaijan as a place where dissenters are jailed and authoritarian rule prevails. “This is absolutely fake and I regret that,” he stated to the delegation led by Michael Harms, head of the German Eastern Business Association.

Azerbaijan has frequently faced criticism from human rights groups for suppressing political opposition and free speech. Local journalists and activists have been imprisoned under controversial charges.

However, some observers note the president occasionally demonstrates moderation, such as pardoning fierce critics in the past. He has also removed some corrupt senior officials.

Still, there is speculation that misinformation from Aliyev’s inner circle may stoke authoritarian tendencies and confrontational foreign policy stances.

Azerbaijan’s complex geopolitical situation, lingering socioeconomic problems, and inconsistent internal political dynamics may further complicate the situation.