The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern over Armenia's rapprochement with the European Union. In an interview with TASS, Vladislav Maslennikov, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of European Problems, stated that this could negatively impact relations with Russia and integration processes in the post-Soviet space.
Baku has considered a petition from the investigation to extend the term of imprisonment of public activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev in connection with new charges brought against him. The court extended the arrest for another month, until July 28. The prisoner denied the allegations, calling them far-fetched and politically motivated.
Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was arrested in December 2022 on charges of hooliganism and contempt of court.
Representatives of the US State Department, the European Union, the Council of Europe and a number of international NGOs have repeatedly demanded his release from prison. On June 16, the oppositionist was charged with new charges of illegal business, legalization of proceeds from crime, falsification of documents and smuggling.