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Azerbaijan’s Zerkalo publication quotes Sabir Erivanli, the head of the “Irevan” center established in 2006, as saying that the website targets broad circles of specialists studying the issues of the region.

Erivanli says that the idea of the establishment of the site is that so far internet users reading in Armenian have learned about the issues in the region only from an Armenian perspective.

“From now on they are also provided with an opportunity to learn the viewpoint of the opposite side,” Erivanli said to Zerkalo.

According to him, the website will present analytical researches dealing with history, domestic, foreign and military policies, economy and ethnic conflicts in the South Caucasus.

According to the “About Us” section of the website, the materials prepared by the center’s specialists and experts are based on irrefutable facts and evidence that provide comprehensive information about the countries of the South Caucasus and their peoples. (The website, however, does not contain any contact information for feedback or information about staff members).

The information, however, is arguably propaganda in nature. Categories such as “Myths”, “Separatism”, “Terrorism” and “Photo Facts” contain anti-Armenian information and refer to the Armenian Genocide in quote marks.

Expert in information affairs Karen Vrtanesyan thinks that Irevan-az is one of the propaganda websites that are created in pre-wartime situations to have moral influence on the adversary.

“Such websites are necessary for creating an information infrastructure that perhaps will not be paid serious attention to at this moment, but will become the most convenient means to spread misinformation in a wartime situation,” Vrtanesyan says.

According to the expert, apart from the fact that a domestic mechanism of propaganda is working inside Azerbaijan, external propaganda mechanisms have been enhanced during the last few months, and this website is an example.

“The source of information must be cited every time information is lifted from Azerbaijani websites,” Vrtanesyan advises Armenian media, explaining that this way Armenian media will not find themselves in a trap if it proves to be misinformation.

Audio records of the “Voice of Azerbaijan” radio’s Armenian service are also placed on the Irevan-az website. The website’s materials are also available in Russian.