Category: 2023

The mountainous enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, long disputed by Armenia and Azerbaijan, is now running out of food and medical supplies due to a tightening blockade by Azerbaijan.

“The situation is really awful,” writes a friend of GZERO who lives in Stepanakert, the region’s capital. “There is almost no food, no medicine, nor any other first need supplies.”

What’s the background? Nagorno-Karabakh was part of the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan, but its population is majority-Armenian. As the USSR collapsed, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh voted for independence, touching off a war with Azerbaijan. After a ceasefire in 1994, the enclave became a de facto independent state propped up by neighboring Armenia, although it remained internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. A fresh round of fighting in 2020 enabled Azerbaijan to reclaim parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and to encircle it. In late 2022, Azerbaijan imposed a partial blockade.

Now, even as EU-brokered peace talks continue, Azerbaijan has tightened its grip, stopping even humanitarian aid vehicles from accessing the region through Armenia. The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has been weeks since it could bring in critical medical supplies. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Wednesday called for access to be reopened.

Azerbaijan has offered to send in aid of its own. But for the people of Karabakh, that’s a non-starter. Accepting that help would, they fear, support Azerbaijan’s claims to the enclave. Some locals have even blockaded routes in from Azeri-controlled territory to prevent any MADE IN AZERBAIJAN aid from arriving at all.

Meanwhile, the situation continues to deteriorate. Our contact in Stepanakert writes, “thank God our family still manages to find something for children not to starve.”

For more context, listen here to Ian Bremmer's December 2022 interview with Ruben Vardanyan, the Russian-Armenian businessman who was then serving as a state minister for the self-proclaimed government of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Gyumri (Armenia) (AFP) – A kilometres-long caravan of trailers loaded with used cars meanders on a dusty road leading to a customs terminal in the Armenian city of Gyumri.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and unprecedented Western sanctions levied on Moscow have created a business opportunity for used car dealers like 31-year-old Yaroslav Kolchenko, who sips a coffee in the sun near the queue.

The US and the EU have banned the export of vehicles to Russia but cars can still be cleared through Armenia, and Kolchenko stands to gain.

"Today even wealthy Russians only have access to used American cars brought to Russia via Armenia," he told AFP.

The native of Saint Petersburg described the arduous journey for vehicles coming to Russia in the wake of sanctions.

"Used, damaged or cheap cars are bought at online auctions in the United States," he explained.

They are then "transported by sea to the Georgian port of Poti, repaired, transported to Armenia for customs clearance, and then taken to Russia by land via Georgia".

The parallel exports are generally seen as a legal grey area and contradict the spirit of sanctions.

The new and lucrative route helps explain growing Ukrainian and Western concerns that Russia's economic partners in the ex-Soviet Caucasus region or Central Asia are aiding Moscow bypass sanctions.

Armenia fell under the spotlight last year when President Vahagn Khachaturyan said Russia would "withstand sanctions" and vowed closer economic ties with "brotherly" Moscow.

The small and poor Caucasus country has a free trade agreement with Russia and clearing cars at Armenian customs is much cheaper compared to Russia.

This has helped Armenia emerge as a hub for re-exports from the United States to Russia after Western car dealers closed dealerships.

Kolchenko's business partner, Andrei, who gave his first name only, said they have been in the business since the war started last February.

"We sold eight cars in April alone and plan to expand the business, which is pretty profitable," he said.

By way of example, Andrei said one car he just purchased for $13,000 would be sold in Saint Petersburg for at least $23,000 with customs costs of spend around $5,000.

Those figures help explain why Armenia's trade turnover with Russia skyrocketed since Moscow's all-out invasion of Ukraine.

Official statistics show a 2.4-fold surge in exports that reached a record $2.4 billion last year.

Car re-exports grew last year by 170 percent, and more than 450,000 cars — mostly from the United States — were taken to Russia in the first quarter of 2023.

In March, the US departments of justice, treasury and commerce said in a joint report that Armenia was among the countries used as transhipment points to Russia.

The EU in June introduced new measures to its 11th sanctions package against Russia to clamp down on the evasion of restrictions, specifically closing loopholes on the re-exportation via third countries of sensitive technology like microchips.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told AFP this month that complying with Western sanctions without angering a key economic partner was a difficult balancing act.

"We're in close contact and cooperation with the EU special envoy and the representative of the US to ensure that we act as a responsible member of the international community," he said.

"At the official level, we do not have any objections or complaints from European or American partners, nor from Russia."

Still Yaroslav said that "what is happening here in Gyumri shows that any sanctions could be evaded."

"Of course, the Americans are not happy about it, and they will probably try to cause trouble but they will fail. You can't isolate a country as big as Russia," he said.

Standing nearby in the shadow of a wilted acacia tree, Andrei smiled in agreement.

"A they say, water will always find new channel if you block a river."

t’s the hottest month of the year in many destinations and the last chance for people to squeeze in some summer travel. But with scorching temperatures and overcrowded destinations becoming the norm, where are some good places for a holiday in August?

While that very much depends on what you’re looking for, there are plenty of amazing locations that shine this month. Those with an adventurous spirit might want to consider Saudi Arabia – the kingdom’s mountainous areas are glorious at this time of year. In jam-packed Europe, there are still some destinations worth considering, like pocket-friendly Riga in Latvia.

And if you can handle crowds for a few days, head to Scotland where the fairy-tale-like capital comes into its own when hosting the annual Fringe festival, and remote beaches and lush countryside await as the perfect post-city-break escape.

Here are six of the best places to travel to in August.

Latvia's capital comes to life with open-air concerts, markets, pop-up stalls and firework displays in August. Photo: Kseniia Samoylenko / Unsplash

If you want an affordable European holiday in August, head for Riga. The largest of the Baltic capitals has a colourful old town, canal-lined parks and a wealth of culture and history. The warmest month of the year in Latvia comes with pleasant temperatures that hover around 23°C, and the country's capital comes to life with open-air concerts, markets, pop-up stalls and firework displays. And unlike many other cities in Europe, it’s yet to be overrun by summertime tourists.

Abha in Saudi Arabia is surrounded by juniper forests. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

While much of the Middle East is too hot to handle in August, Saudi Arabia’s Abha is an exception. Surrounded by craggy mountains and dense juniper forests, the capital of the Asir region is the place to go for outdoor hikes, mountain exploration and overnight camping.

It’s also where you’ll find the country’s first national park, stretching from the Red Sea coastline to the kingdom’s highest peak. The Asir Summer Festival runs until September 1, bringing music, concerts, art and culture to the misty mountain landscape.

Scotland's capital hosts the annual Fringe festival every August. Photo: Luis Mayoral / Unsplash

Scotland’s pretty capital comes alive in August when international crowds descend upon its hilly streets for the annual Fringe festival, the world’s largest performance arts festival that booms with comedy gold. While it’s certain to be crowded, it’s well worth spending a few days in the capital to soak up the festive atmosphere.

Afterwards, an easy train ride west will take you to Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city known for its shopping, culture and live music scene. Or head north where you’ll find uncrowded beaches and glasslike lochs – the perfect antidote to your time in the big city.

The Bazaruto Archipelago has stunning beaches. Photo: Minor Hotel Group

As the end of southern Africa’s winter spreads across the continent, the six islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago in Mozambique are getting into their stride. August sees the often-sweltering temperatures become clement and the rains stay away.

It’s the perfect time to unwind on the region's famed beaches or take to the coral-laced waters for snorkelling and scuba-diving. It’s also a good place to spot humpback whales as they migrate from Antarctica to East African waters at this time of year. If you prefer to stick to dry land, try horse-riding, birdwatching and sand dune safaris.

Rio's mountains, city and sea are bathed in pleasantly warm temperatures in August. Photo: Alexandre Macieira Riotur

With average temperatures hovering between 18ºC and 25ºC, Brazil’s party city experiences winter in August – which means pleasantly warm days. It’s the ideal time to take in Rio de Janeiro’s top landmarks without having to fight against a blazing sun.

Head to the Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain, then visit Tijuca National Park and stroll along Copacabana Beach, where you probably won't be the only one humming Barry Manilow’s 1970s hit.

To escape sun-worshipping throngs, stay near Leblon Beach where luxury hotels and high-end restaurants come with smaller crowds than at other beaches in the city.

August temperatures hover just under 30ºC in Yerevan. Photo: Armenia Travel

With medieval architecture and striking natural landscapes, Armenia offers travellers an indulgence of history and an overload of nature, not to mention wallet-friendly prices.

The capital city, Yerevan, enjoys sunshine-filled summer days with August temperatures hovering just under 30ºC – with plenty of parks and outdoor dining to make the most of the weather. It’s the place to sample one of the oldest cuisines in Europe, with dishes featuring herbs, wildflowers and regional spices.

Summer is also a great time for hiking in Armenia’s more mountainous areas where conditions are cooler and less crowded.

• Dylan Robertson

The Canadian government is again blaming Azerbaijan for escalating tensions in its Nagorno-Karabakh region, saying it is concerned about the "deteriorating humanitarian situation" for Armenians living in that region.

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but it is mostly populated by Armenians, and neighbouring Armenia has fought for control of the region for decades.

Tensions rose in the area last fall, when the region's main access road was blocked by groups of people suspected of being affiliated with the Azerbaijan government, and then by officials who have limited vehicle access.

Azerbaijan insists the region isn't under a blockade, despite Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch saying food and essentials are severely restricted.

Last week, the International Committee of the Red Cross said it's been denied access to all routes into the region, resulting in shortages for medicine, food and baby formula.

Canada is planning on sending two officials to support a European monitoring mission that is aiming to prevent another war in the region.

The Red Cross expressed alarm about Azerbaijan's blocking of the area shortly after that country's foreign ministry cited the group's access to the area as proof that there was no blockade.

The Red Cross said last week it has been able to evacuate "more than 600 people in urgent need of medical care since December 2022," but still has trouble accessing the region in order to provide medical services.

Global Affairs Canada said in a social media post Tuesday that Azerbaijan should comply with the International Court of Justice's order to allow the "unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo" into the region.

Azerbaijan's foreign ministry noted that the court order still allows for the inspection of vehicles entering the territory, and has alleged that the route has been used by elements affiliated with Armenia to smuggle weapons into the area.

Canadian MPs heard testimony in January about limited access to the region, but the House of Commons foreign affairs committee hasn't completed its study or issued an interim report on how Canada should respond.

The federal government plans to open an embassy in Armenia shortly, and Liberal officials often attend Armenian diaspora events.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2023.

When the Soviet Union suddenly dissolved in 1991, the West responded by unanimously extending full and immediate diplomatic recognition to the 15 republics that had emerged from the ruins of the vanished empire. 

That included Israel, as one country on the Western side of the transition, and Azerbaijan as one of the new republics on the opposite side. Jerusalem recognised the Caucasian republic on Christmas Day, 1991. However, unlike the rest of the West, whose concerns at that time focused mainly on remaking the international system’s broader arrangements, Israel was particularly focused on retrieving the Jews of the former Eastern Bloc. 

Part of those efforts included the creation of a route for direct flights between Baku and Tel Aviv. This actually happened a full half-a-year before Azerbaijan’s formal independence, through a deal between its Soviet-era government and the Jewish state. 

It was the beginning of an improbable and elaborate relationship that, 32 years on, constitutes Israel’s strongest alliance anywhere across the Muslim world. 

Baku’s role ended up being relatively marginal to the process of bringing nearly 1 million former Soviet Jews to Israel between 1989 and 2004 – most boarded direct flights from Russia and Ukraine. 

Yet the Baku-Tel Aviv flights laid the foundations for a commercial arrangement that was begging to happen: Israel had no oil, and Azerbaijan had vast petroleum fields in the Caspian Sea, and along its shores. Moreover, the distance between the two countries is short, about the distance between Melbourne and Brisbane. Israel’s previous Middle Eastern oil supply had come from Iran, but this had ended abruptly in 1979 with the Islamic Revolution, forcing Israel to seek energy from distant, and thus costly, alternative suppliers, such as Mexico and Venezuela. 

During the Cold War, Azerbaijani supply and Israeli demand could not meet – but the new world order post-1991 made their encounter possible, not only because capitalism had suddenly become the international consensus, but because Azerbaijan sorely needed cash. Azerbaijani oil thus began reaching Israel, and Baku has been a steady, major supplier of Israeli energy ever since. 

Israel does not publish figures concerning its oil imports, but experts believe Azerbaijan is its largest supplier, averaging around 40% of the Jewish state’s crude imports annually. Traffic on this axis has been so lively that, in 2006, Israel’s then-infrastructure minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer attended the inauguration of the Azeri-Georgian-Turkish pipeline which has since brought Azerbaijani petroleum to fuel millions of Israel cars. 

The energy relationship paved the way for commercial traffic in the opposite direction. Israeli firms built Azerbaijan’s telephone system and Israeli consultants were hired to upgrade Azeribaijani agriculture. 

However, the main traffic would be in the military sphere. 

It was this aspect of the relationship that was most on show when Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant made a very high-profile visit to Baku on July 13-14, meeting President Ilham Aliyev, Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov and other senior defence officials. The defence and security relationship between Baku and Jerusalem is already long, broad and deep, and looks set to get even more intensive and extensive, reflecting both countries’ growing concerns about the behaviour of Azerbijan’s neighbour, Iran, and its proxies.

In 1991, compelled to build an army, an air force and a navy pretty much from scratch, Azerbaijan sorely needed both hardware and know-how – which Israel happily offered. Preliminary deals were struck quickly, and multi-billion-dollar purchases of Israeli defence products followed over subsequent years.

Israeli arms deals are not officially reported, but one particularly sizeable deal with Azerbaijan – US$1.6 billion (A$2.35b) worth of drones, missile interceptors and anti-missile systems – was confirmed by Israeli officials in 2012 in response to an Associated Press report. 

Another deal, whereby Israel Shipyards built 14 coastguard and assault vessels for Azerbaijan’s navy over the past decade, was reported by the website Israel Defense this July. 

In 2016, while hosting Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Baku, President Ilham Aliyev said publicly that his country had signed US$5 billion (A$7.35b) worth of arms deals with Israel. The deals reportedly range from submachine guns and artillery barrels to radars and avionics.  

In early 2022, during a visit to Baku, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirmed reports that Israel Air Industries will supply Azerbaijan with two satellites. The deal is reportedly worth US$120 million (A$176.53m). 

Some of this vibrant activity involves the presence of Israeli experts in Azerbaijan, most notably on the naval vessels which were built in Azerbaijan under Israeli supervision. 

Overall, these deals reflect a unique geographic position and strategic predicament that both sets Azerbaijan apart from other post-Soviet republics, and drives its special relations with Israel. 

Straddling a 700-kilometre coastline along the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan is wedged between Russia and Iran, two historic powers which have, over the centuries, taken turns dominating the multi-ethnic Caucasus region, where Azeris are the single largest nationality. Suspicion of both Moscow and Teheran is therefore both a foundation of the Azeri worldview and a pillar of Baku’s foreign policy. 

Moscow’s shadow thickened in 2008, when the Russian army attacked Azerbaijan’s northwestern neighbor Georgia and occupied about a fifth of its land – land which it holds to this day. 

The Iranian threat stems from a mixture of ideological and ethnic differences. Most Azeris are Shi’ite Muslims, but they are generally secular and see their Shi’ite neighbour’s fundamentalism as a menace. 

While they have a common religious history, the two societies are racially unrelated – Iranians are primarily Persian while Azeris are a Turkic people. Azerbaijan’s secularist and Western outlook was made plain following its independence, when it chose to adopt the Latin script rather than the Persian-Arabic or Cyrillic alternatives. 

Moreover, an estimated one-quarter of Iranians are ethnic Azeris, constituting the country’s largest minority, and most are concentrated in northern Iran, and are thus contiguous with Azerbaijan. Although Iranian Azeris have never actively challenged the regime, the ayatollahs fear some kind of a future link-up between the two. 

A statement last November by Azerbaijan’s President concerning the Azeri minority in Iran, asserting that “their security, their rights and well-being are of the utmost importance to us,” and vowing “we will continue to do everything to help the Azerbaijanis who have found themselves cut off from our state,” only exacerbated Iranian fears. 

Iran is also suspicious of Azerbaijan due to its alliance with Turkey, which is ethnically and linguistically close to the Azeris, and has backed Azerbaijan throughout its ongoing three-decade conflict with Armenia. The prospect of a Turkic belt stretching from Istanbul to Central Asia is a major nightmare for Iran.

This, in brief, is the context in which Iran has taken sides against Azerbaijan in its ongoing territorial and ethnic conflict with its neighbour to the west, Armenia. Last year, responding to a Turkish-Azeri plan to establish a transport corridor that would bypass Armenian checkpoints, Iran opened a consulate in the southern Armenian town of Kapan, sparking Azeri protests. 

From Israel’s point of view, the Iranian aspect of Azerbaijan’s situation has turned a vibrant trade partnership into a major strategic asset. 

Azerbaijan has reportedly allowed Israel to use its territory for clandestine activity inside Iran, and potentially to use its airbases in case of a military confrontation between the Jewish state and Iran. Considering that Teheran is more than 1,500 kilometres away from Tel Aviv, Azerbaijan’s proximity to Iran would be invaluable in the event of a military clash between Israel and Iran. 

Over the years, the Azeris have become increasingly open about their special relationship with Israel – so much so that this past March, Baku opened an embassy in Tel Aviv, something it had previously avoided out of fear of a hostile response from parts of the Muslim world, most importantly, Iran. An Iranian rebuke of Baku indeed resulted, but Azerbaijan’s Government didn’t care. 

The relationship is a success story in many ways, yet Israel’s ties with Azerbaijan carry a price tag, and it’s hefty. 

First, the authoritarian government in Baku has been accused of broad human rights violations repeatedly over recent years. One Israeli critic, blogger Alexander Lapshin, was arrested in 2016 in Belarus, at Azerbaijan’s request, after writing critically about the regime following a visit to Azerbaijan. Lapshin was indeed extradited back to Azerbaijan, sentenced and jailed before receiving a presidential pardon the following year. 

Secondly, the alliance with Baku comes at the expense of Israel’s relationship with Armenia, especially after Israeli-supplied drones played a role in fighting last year that ended with an Armenian defeat. 

Israel has stopped short of taking a diplomatic side in the Azerbaijan-Armenia territorial dispute, but the deployment of Israeli hardware against Armenian troops has angered Armenians. Then again, as Iranian allies, the Armenians recognise that they are flying in the face of Israel’s interests, just as Israel’s relationship with Baku is negatively affecting Armenia’s interests. 

It’s been this way for centuries in the Caucasus, where myriad tribes and nations wrestled and traded with each other, while exploiting the rivalries of the surrounding powers to manoeuvre against their local enemies. For better and worse, Israel has found itself part of that long-standing Caucasian struggle. 

https://aijac.org.au/australia-israel-review/baku-to-the-future/?fbclid=IwAR0bPEHnk6ZQ2CZtzG-CGdPJYStm9UAhu74uIyz688H3y5W8teum9pBSxTU

Disney+ has pulled its upcoming series about the life of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, sparking widespread outrage from the Turkish government, opposition, and civil society.

Disney’s decision to cancel the series “Atatürk,” which was planned to be broadcast on the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic, came after the Armenian Committee of America (ANCA) called for the cancellation of the show, criticising the company for “glorifying a dictator.” That fueled the debate that it was a politically motivated move.

The company has allegedly said that the decision has “nothing to do with the Armenian Committee” and will be aired on “Fox TV.” But that has not been sufficient to stop the outrage in Türkiye, as the authorities, including the media watchdog, have been involved.

It is shameful for Disney+ to subjugate itself to hate speech against Türkiye and its founding leader while managing to unite the overwhelming majority in the country in all political segments. But what actually happened?

Disney+ is the digital platform of the Walt Disney Company, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. This year, with the proposal of the Turkish representative office, they decided to make a 6-episode series and a movie about Atatürk to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye.

The series was to be shown on Fox TV Turkey in partnership with Disney+ and in cinemas on November 3.

Meanwhile, Disney+ ended foreign productions in early July 2023, citing losses. This was not a decision specific to Türkiye, it caused reactions in all contracted countries, but it had a special impact on Türkiye because of the Atatürk series.

In response, company officials said that the decision would not affect the production of Atatürk, which they had spent millions of dollars to complete.

That’s when the Armenian American Committee (ANCA) escalated its campaign. They accused the company of glorifying Atatürk by attributing war crimes and even genocide to his name. What they have been calling as crimes was Türkiye’s War of Independence.

When Disney+ said they would not broadcast it, they took it on as if they were undertaking an action.

Disney+ spokespersons stated that it will be shown on Fox TV and in cinemas. Their justification was far from convincing because the initial aim was to show it globally, to remind the world and young generations of Atatürk and the 1923 Republican Revolution.

In the end, the widespread opinion is that the Disney+ management has bowed to the influential Armenian lobby in Hollywood, ignored Türkiye’s intense reaction, and sacrificed the huge Turkish market for this cause.

The extent of the issue has already exceeded the decision of a company to give up the profits of a production that it has spent time, effort, and money on and to downgrade the production’s screening league. The reactions of mainstream opposition parties such as the CHP and IYI Party, and civil society organisations sensitive to Atatürk, the Republic, and secularism are natural.

This time, President Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP administration have also claimed the Atatürk series. A rare case of the opposition and the government uniting on the issue of Atatürk.

Ebubekir Şahin, the chairman of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) stated that the council will ask for a defence from the channel authorities because the Atatürk series will not be shown on the Disney+ platform. It shows how politicised the issue has become.

There are media reports that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Director of National Intelligence İbrahim Kalın also intervened in the process. AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik also condemned the decision to cancel the broadcast as a shameful disrespect to “the values of the Republic of Türkiye and our nation”.

To attribute the AKP’s seeming embrace of Atatürk in the case of Disney+ and the Atatürk series to “the Armenian issue” alone would be quite inadequate to explain the issue in all its dimensions.

It took Erdoğan and the AKP leadership some time to realise the depth of love and respect for Atatürk in all segments of society. MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli’s suggestions that Atatürk should no longer be an issue embraced only by the mainstream opposition, such as the CHP and the IYI Party, have also played a role in this. But it is a start that the AKP leadership also feels obliged to embrace Atatürk, albeit on this occasion.

On the other hand, it should not be forgotten that the Armenian Committee (ANCA) is the diaspora organisation that strongly opposes the Nikol Pashinyan administration’s attempts to reconcile with Azerbaijan and Türkiye, and that it has partnered with the Greek lobby in the US Congress to oppose the sale of F-16s to Türkiye. The weakening of their remote control over Armenia is the Diaspora’s nightmare.

This is one of the reasons why they have been attacking Atatürk and Türkiye in such a vicious manner, which they have so far kept out of the 1915 genocide allegations.

Now let me return to my efforts to cancel my Disney+ subscription.

https://yetkinreport.com/en/2023/08/02/a-shame-disney-cancels-ataturk-series-after-armenian-committees-call/

A campaign calling on people to cancel their Disney+ subscriptions has been launched in Turkey, after the streaming service decided not to release a television series about Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the republic's founding father.

According to reports in Turkish newspapers, Disney+ decided against releasing Ataturk after lobbying from groups including the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), which has branded the programme an "intensely controversial TV series glorifying genocidal Turkish dictator Mustafa Kemal Ataturk".

Opposition to the series has garnered a lot of attention in Turkey, partly because while Ataturk was accused of carrying out massacres of Armenians during the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923), there is a lack of publicly available evidence linking him to the mass deportation and killing of Armenians in 1915 during the Ottoman Empire, an event now largely recognised as genocide.

Last month, Disney+ Turkey announced that the Ataturk series would soon air, to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey. Ataturk is a revered figure in Turkey and his portrayal is a sensitive matter. The streaming platform has not responded to the latest reports. 

The chairman of Turkey's television watchdog RTUK, Ebubekir Sahin, announced an official probe in response to the controversy, stating that Ataturk holds significant importance as a social figure. 

Politicians, including Omer Celik, spokesperson for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party, condemned Disney's reported decision not to stream the series, deeming it "shameful" and "disrespectful".

In a statement on Wednesday, Walt Disney Turkey said that it had revised its content distribution strategy to reach a wider audience, stating that the Ataturk series will be aired as a special version of a documentary on the Fox television channel in Turkey, followed by two separate films to be shown in cinemas.

"As part of the centenary celebrations, we're proud to announce that we will be bringing Ataturk to even more people from October through free to air Fox. Followed then by a theatrical window where people can experience both Film One and Film Two on the big screen," Saner Ayar, the producer, was quoted as saying in the Walt Disney Turkey statement.

The decision not to stream the series on Disney's global platform sparked anger among Turkish Twitter users, leading to a campaign encouraging the cancellation of Disney+ subscriptions. Prominent figures, including politicians, artists and journalists, publicly announced their cancellations in solidarity.

Mustafa Sandal, a famous singer, tweeted: "I did the right thing and cancelled. Now it's your turn! If Ataturk does not exist, we do not exist! Go to another country Disney+ # CancelDisney."

Serdar Kilic, a Turkish ambassador in charge of his country's normalisation process with Armenia, shared a screenshot that showed he had cancelled his subscription.

In June, Disney removed numerous shows and movies from Disney+ to reduce ongoing residuals and its tax bill. This strategy also resulted in the removal of eight Turkish TV shows and movies produced exclusively for Disney's Turkish streaming platform, with the suspension of new Turkish content launches.

According to Flix Patrol, a site that tracks streaming service data, Disney+ had approximately 50,000 subscribers in Turkey in June, while its main competitor, Netflix, boasts at least 2.6 million subscribers.

Reacting to the controversy, Huseyin Yayman, chairman of the Turkish parliament's Digital Channels Commission, threatened severe sanctions against Disney.

"We will impose harsh fines, including licence cancellation for Disney+, bandwidth reduction, and advertising bans," he said on Thursday, claiming that Disney's decision may have political motives.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-disney-ataturk-controversy-subscriptions-cancelled

Local media outlets revealed that Disney Plus's decision has caused wide controversy among Turks who called to stop subscribing the platform taking into consideration the position of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, in the hearts of Turks.

The head of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), Ebubekir Şahin announced that the council will be launching a probe into Disney Plus's cancellation of the Atatürk series.

"Based on the information circulating in the public that the digital media service provider, Disney+, decided not to broadcast the domestic content series 'Atatürk' on its platform, the defense of the institution will be heard, and an investigation will be initiated. Our founding father, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, is the most crucial social value of the Republic of Türkiye. Allegations of interference by the Armenian lobby, as reported in the press, are being meticulously investigated," Şahin posted.