A research seminar titled “The 44-Day Patriotic War in the British Press” was held at Baku State University (BSU).

Opening the event, Kamala Najafova, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of History, noted that the aim of the study was to analyze how the Patriotic War was covered in the British media, focusing on the narratives used and the context in which Azerbaijan’s position was presented.

The main report was delivered by Sabuhi Guliyev, a doctoral student of the Department of Modern and Contemporary History of European and American Countries at BSU. In his presentation, he analyzed materials published during the war by leading British media outlets such as BBC News, Reuters, The Guardian, The Independent, and The Telegraph.

The speaker emphasized that, in addition to defeating the enemy, the Azerbaijani army set new records in modern military history across a number of indicators. He also noted that the United Kingdom is among the countries that support the protection of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized borders. Since the outbreak of the Patriotic War, the British government expressed concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and called on the parties to cease hostilities and resolve the conflict in accordance with international law, particularly with respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

The study analyzed parliamentary debates, official statements, and speeches by government representatives reflecting the United Kingdom’s official support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity during the war. Particular attention was paid to reports published by influential global media outlets, especially BBC News and Reuters, whose coverage plays a significant role in shaping international public opinion.

According to the analysis, while some reports maintained a balanced approach, others did not fully reflect the historical and legal context of the conflict. In some cases, particularly in the early days of the war, certain media outlets published claims against Azerbaijan without sufficiently verified sources.

The study also revealed the presence of different narratives in the British press. Some outlets focused primarily on humanitarian aspects, highlighting civilian casualties, the destruction of cities, and the social consequences of the war.

The analysis concluded that the coverage of the Second Karabakh War in the British media reflects a combination of approaches: some reports clearly address the international legal framework of the conflict and Azerbaijan’s position, while others frame the events mainly in political or humanitarian terms without providing sufficient historical context.

The seminar concluded with a discussion during which participants’ questions were answered.