Opposition figure Gulu Mammadli stated that the arrest of Ali Karimli, leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), was expected, but the reasons go beyond simple criticism of the authorities. According to Mammadli, Karimli's publications in major Western media have increased his political significance and visibility abroad, which has caused concern among the Azerbaijani authorities.
Russia sent invitations to meetings in Moscow to Yerevan and Baku. Azerbaijan has always confirmed its readiness, which cannot be said about its Armenian partners, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
“Perhaps the advisers of the Armenian authorities from Washington, Brussels or Paris will be able to offer something more interesting and better, but we need to look at past experience. Everyone has already seen what the gatherings in Prague and Brussels led to. Perhaps the Armenian people are not aware, and they are not informed about everything, but it is worth turning to different sources and seeing how everything went in Prague and Brussels. And as if there wouldn’t be any more surprises on the advice of “best friends,” Zakharova said.
Earlier, the Foreign Ministry noted that Armenia “is trying to sit on two chairs and is taking steps that ignore the interests of Russia.” In particular, Yerevan and Brussels discussed the possibility of expanding the European observer mission in Armenia and the supply of non-lethal weapons.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed disagreement with the policies of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), but has not yet made a decision to leave its membership.