This week Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attended the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington, D.C., joining more than 20 heads of state to discuss reconstruction and regional cooperation, including Gaza initiatives. Meanwhile, protests outside the Waldorf Astoria hotel highlighted calls for the release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, and the Committee to Protect Journalists raised concerns over the abuse of detained Meydan TV journalists. In Russia, Ex-Azerbaijani Diaspora Leader Shahin Shikhlinski faces a 23-year prison sentence in a high-profile murder case, drawing attention to politically sensitive judicial proceedings affecting Azerbaijani nationals abroad.
Ilham Aliyev at the Board of Peace: Gaza reconstruction and regional cooperation
The inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace took place on February 19 at the U.S. Institute of Peace, drawing more than 20 heads of state, including Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Established last month at an official ceremony in Davos, the council counts 26 founding member countries, Azerbaijan among them. Trump highlighted that several nations, including Azerbaijan, have pledged over $7 billion for the restoration of the region, with the United States contributing an additional $10 billion.
Subsequently, Hikmet Hajiyev, an assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, claimed that Azerbaijan had not allocated any funds to the $7 billion Gaza reconstruction initiative mentioned at the Board of Peace meeting. He stated, “In the future, Azerbaijan may consider participating in investment projects in Gaza through the Board of Peace. However, I would like to clarify one point: Azerbaijan doesn’t envisage to participate in the USD 7 billion financial initiative related to Gaza that was announced during today’s meeting of the Board of Peace.” Hajiyev emphasized that, as a founding member, Azerbaijan continues to support the goals and objectives of the Board of Peace.
On January 22 in Davos, Trump’s son-in-law, businessman Jared Kushner, unveiled a master plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, estimating that more than $25 billion would be needed. The Gaza restoration, along with the establishment of a Board of Peace, forms part of Trump’s 20-point peace plan. While some of Washington’s Middle Eastern allies have joined the Board, Western countries have largely stayed outside, with Azerbaijan agreeing to be represented.
The ceasefire in Gaza has been repeatedly violated since October, resulting in hundreds of Palestinian deaths and the deaths of four Israeli soldiers.
On October 7, 2023, the Hamas militant group launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages, prompting a series of Israeli strikes on Gaza that are estimated to have claimed at least 70,000 lives.
Protests in Washington call for political prisoner releases
A protest organized by Azerbaijani exiles critical of the government took place outside the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, where Ilham Aliyev was staying, with demonstrators chanting slogans like “Freedom for political prisoners” and “Freedom for Tofig Yagublu,” while videos show security personnel confronting some participants; pro-government Azerbaijani media accused the exiles of trying to provoke a disturbance and force entry into the hotel, claims the protesters have denied.
Among the demonstrators was Rahim Yagublu, son of imprisoned Azerbaijani government critic Tofig Yagublu, who said seven to eight exiles had gathered for a peaceful protest to demand freedom for all political prisoners, including journalists and human rights defenders, explaining that protesting in Azerbaijan has been banned since 2019; he accused Azerbaijani authorities and Aliyev’s bodyguards of responding violently, tearing his clothes and hitting him.
The released videos appear to show that the actions were carried out under the personal direction of Farid Asgarov, head of the President’s Security Service.
According to The Washington Post, citing Rahim Yagublu and fellow protester Adil Amrahli, at least four people were injured after physical confrontations with Aliyev’s bodyguards, with Amrahli reportedly hurting his leg while fleeing; Washington police spokesperson Tom Lynch said the city’s special operations unit and the U.S. Secret Service were present during the incident but did not clarify if police intervened or whether the bodyguards remained in the U.S. overnight, noting the matter is being handled by the State Department. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi emphasized that the agency’s role is to provide security for heads of state, including the hotel where the Azerbaijani delegation was staying, and attempts to get further comment from the State Department or Azerbaijan’s embassy were unsuccessful.
Rahim Yagublu told The Washington Post that although police were nearby, they did not intervene; after a few minutes, Aliyev’s bodyguards left, and the protesters called an ambulance, with medical personnel treating injuries on-site but taking no one to a hospital. Adil Amrahli said the group ran from the hotel’s main entrance to another exit to prevent Aliyev from leaving unnoticed, emphasizing that their aim was a peaceful demonstration demanding freedom for political prisoners in Azerbaijan.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that the D.C. Attorney General’s office is investigating the incident outside the Waldorf Astoria involving Azerbaijani exiles. U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey, affiliated with the Armenian National Committee of America, condemned Aliyev on X, saying “Bloodsoaked strongmen like Aliyev have no place being paraded around Washington” and called on the President and Department of Justice to hold those responsible for the violence accountable. In response, Azerbaijani parliamentarian and New Azerbaijan Party board member Hikmat Babaoghlu criticized Pallone’s remarks, claiming they opposed Azerbaijan’s national interests and exposed the forces behind radical protests.
Committee to Protect Journalists raised concerns over the abuse of detained Meydan TV journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed concern over the reported abuse of journalists Aytaj Tapdig (Ahmadova), Khayala Aghayeva, and Aysel Umudova, who are in detention in connection with the “Meydan TV case.” The incident reportedly occurred on February 18 at the Kurdakhani Investigation Detention Center.
According to CPJ, the female journalists were subjected to violence and were threatened in court that if they did not watch their behavior, things could get “worse.” This has raised serious concerns about the treatment of journalists in custody and their safety while detained.
On February 18, the Meydan TV female journalists faced physical and psychological pressure from the detention center’s deputy chief, Cavid Gulaliyev. Around ten staff members conducted a search in their cell. During the process, the journalists were bent by the neck and their arms were twisted, causing Aytaj Tapdig’s health to deteriorate.
On December 6, 2024, several Meydan TV journalists—Ramin Deko (Jabrayilzada), Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunesh), Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdig), Khayala Aghayeva, Natig Javadli—and civil society member Ulvi Tahirov were arrested under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code for alleged organized smuggling. Over the following months, additional journalists collaborating with Meydan TV, including Shamshad Aghayev, Nurlan Libre, Fatima Movlamli, Ulviyya Ali, and Ahməd Mukhtar, were also detained. On August 28, 2025, charges were intensified, with the detainees now facing seven criminal code articles. The journalists deny the allegations, asserting their arrests are politically motivated efforts to suppress independent media and free expression in the country.
Ex-Azerbaijani diaspora leader Shahin Shikhlinski faces 23-year sentence in Russia
In Russia, former head of the Azerbaijani diaspora Shahin Shikhlinski faces a prosecutor’s demand for a 23-year prison sentence. The Sverdlovsk Regional Court concluded the trial of Shikhlinski and the Safarov brothers, with the state prosecutor calling for long sentences for all defendants: 23 years for Shikhlinski and Akif Safarov, 22 years for Ayaz Safarov, 18 years for Kamal Safarov, 13 years for Bakir and Mazahir Safarov, and 15 years for Shucaaddin Rajabov. The court’s jury previously ruled that the defendants were not entitled to leniency.
According to the investigation, the defendants are accused of involvement in the 2001 murder of trader Yunus Pashayev and the 2010 attempted assassination of businessman Fahruz Shirinov. Shikhlinski specifically faces charges under Russia’s Criminal Code Article 318 for violence against a government official, as well as attempted contract killing. The case has drawn attention due to its violent and politically sensitive nature, highlighting tensions within the Azerbaijani community in Yekaterinburg.
The legal proceedings follow a June 2025 operation by Russian authorities targeting Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg, during which two brothers, Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, were killed from injuries sustained during the raid. Several other Safarov family members and Azerbaijani individuals were detained. Shikhlinski himself was first briefly detained in July and later re-arrested on August 2 in Moscow, then transferred to Yekaterinburg. The charges against him include violence against state representatives and other serious crimes allegedly committed between 2001 and 2011.
