Azerbaijan’s Lawyer Defends Defamation Suit Against CNN: ‘These Untrue Statements Actually Put Lives at Risk’

Home TV News Aug 24, 2026 2:45pm PT Azerbaijan’s Lawyer Defends Defamation Suit Against CNN: ‘These Untrue Statements Actually Put Lives at Risk’ By Gene Maddaus Plus Icon Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer @GeneMaddaus Latest Paramount and State A.G. to Meet Monday to Discuss Settlement of Antitrust Case 3 days ago Chris Aronson Files $4 Million Age Discrimination Suit Over Ouster at Paramount 3 days ago Amid ‘Spider-Man’ and ‘The Odyssey’ Leaks, Hollywood’s Battle Against Piracy Enters a Whole New Era 3 days ago See All Getty Images Azerbaijan is very upset about a June 5 report on CNN that Israeli troops had used the country as a staging area for attacks on Iran. The country’s government says that the report, based on anonymous sources, is both completely wrong and dangerous, as it risks drawing Azerbaijan into the conflict. In this situation, most governments would issue a condemnatory statement and leave it at that. But Azerbaijan has gone a step farther, filing a defamation suit against CNN in Delaware last week. CNN’s response: “We stand by our reporting.” Related Stories Venice Adds 'NAZA,' Documentary From 'No Other Land' Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, to Competition