Statement  by   Turan News Agency

On February 15 and 18, 2025, the website Day.az published articles containing defamatory allegations about the activities of the Turan news agency.

In these materials, the author attempts to portray the agency as dependent on Western funding and subordinated to the interests of foreign entities.

We categorically state that these publications are disinformation aimed at discrediting Turan, an independent media outlet that operates exclusively within the framework of Azerbaijani law and in accordance with professional and ethical journalism standards.

The figures and accusations presented in the articles are false. In particular:

1. Turan has never received funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), despite the authors' claims that at least $2 million was allegedly transferred to the agency’s accounts between 2010 and 2020.
2. The claims that from 2015 to 2023, the agency received large sums from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) to prepare "independent" reports on human rights and press freedom are untrue. Turan has not received any funds from NED and was not financed by this organization during the specified period.
3. The article alleges that in 2024, Turan received 18,771 manats from the European Union’s representation in Azerbaijan. This claim is false—Turan has not received these funds.
4. The authors also claim that Turan received 68,946 manats from the Czech military attaché, disguised as a subscription. No such transaction took place. This is a blatant falsification.
5. The publication states that in 2023, Turan’s revenue exceeded 600,000 manats, with a significant portion allegedly coming from structures associated with European embassies and foundations, including the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), USAID, and Western intelligence agencies. This is slander. The agency’s revenues were significantly lower and came exclusively from the sale of its information products, not from the mentioned organizations.
6. The claim that the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) allegedly granted the agency €120,000 in 2022 for analytical materials is an absolute lie. EED has never funded Turan.
7. The article states that French organizations actively supported the agency, specifically alleging that in 2021, Turan received €50,000 from the "Mediazona" fund. This is another outright falsehood—Turan has never received funds from "Mediazona" or similar structures.

The second article (Day.az, February 18) attempts to misrepresent the agency’s legitimate revenue from the sale of its information services as "foreign funding". It claims that from 2020 to 2024, Turan allegedly received 180,596 manats from abroad, presenting this as evidence of foreign interference. However, in reality, these were legal commercial revenues from the sale of the agency’s news and analytical content.

All funds deposited into Turan’s bank account are transparent and fully comply with Azerbaijani legislation.

Both publications are part of a deliberate attack on Turan, the only independent news agency in the country that is not state-funded.

By publishing these allegations without seeking the agency’s comment, Day.az has violated the "Media Law" and fundamental principles of journalistic ethics.

In accordance with the media law, Turan demands the right to respond and the publication of this statement on Day.az. We reserve the right to take legal action to protect the agency’s reputation.

Turan News Agency