Azerbaijan news site Mikroskop offline due to ransomware

The news outlet Mikroskop, known for its critical coverage of issues in Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, has suffered a ransomware attack that took its website offline. The attackers demand a ransom of 0.5 bitcoin (approximately $13,000) to restore access to the website.

The outlet's co-founder and editor-in-chief, Fatima Karimova, believes that a hacker group is behind the attack, potentially linked to the government due to increased pressure and attacks following critical publications about the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict.

Another co-founder of Mikroskop, suspected the Azerbaijani government's involvement in the attack, citing the consistent insults and pressure the outlet has faced for their critical reporting. He mentioned that this is the first time Azerbaijani news websites have experienced a ransomware attack, as previous attacks usually involved attempts to delete archives rather than demanding a ransom. The attackers targeted the website's backend, rendering the homepage and admin panel inaccessible.

Mikroskop, founded in exile in early 2018, covers sensitive topics such as the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, human rights, social issues, and gender issues within Azerbaijan.