Amid hundreds of political repressions, Azerbaijan hosts a "global media forum"

At a media forum in Stepanakert, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev praised the recent statement by the Armenian Prime Minister. Nikol Pashinyan noted that "it was necessary to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan earlier." Aliyev emphasized that he had repeatedly offered Pashinyan this option over the years.

Addressing Armenia again, the Azerbaijani President insisted on amending the Constitution and agreeing to abolish the OSCE Minsk Group, stating that after that it would be possible to move on to signing a peace treaty. In addition, at the media forum, Azerbaijani Presidential Aide Hikmet Hajiyev said that the recent meeting between Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan in Abu Dhabi was held in a constructive atmosphere and without the involvement of mediators.
Hajiyev emphasized that it was this format that contributed to tangible progress in the negotiations. According to him, positive progress has been made in agreeing on the text of the peace agreement and in the process of border delimitation.

Gadzhiev mentioned that the parties discussed the possibility of initialing the agreement, but this is hampered by unresolved issues, namely the presence of contradictory provisions in the Armenian constitution and the lack of a decision on the final liquidation of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Commenting on the media forum, Azerbaijani human rights activist Arif Yunusov, who lives in exile, called the participants' hushing up of the situation with political prisoners, of whom there are currently about 400, "the height of cynicism".

"The height of cynicism is that there are 375 political prisoners in Azerbaijan, 29 of whom are journalists, 9 of whom are women! Against this background, the country's authorities are holding another, already the third, so-called "Global Media Forum", to which 140 people from 52 countries have been invited. “And if only one of them had raised the issue of journalists arrested in Azerbaijan, convicted on obviously fabricated charges or awaiting sentencing...,” the human rights activist complained on Facebook.

Последние новости
Trial of Soviet Propagandists Begins in Azerbaijan
Society
Trial of Soviet Propagandists Begins in Azerbaijan
16 March 2026

A trial has begun in Baku for four individuals: Ibrahim Asadli, Abdullah Ibrahimli, Elchin Bayramli, and Mehman Zeynalov. They are accused of planning to hold a march with Soviet symbols.
Vardanyan's family claims he was prevented from contacting the ombudsman
Human rights
Vardanyan's family claims he was prevented from contacting the ombudsman
16 March 2026

Relatives of convicted former Karabakh state minister, former Russian citizen, and billionaire Ruben Vardanyan reported that he was prevented from completing his appeal to Azerbaijan's Human Rights Commissioner Sabina Aliyeva. During a telephone conversation with his family on March 13, the call was forcibly terminated, preventing him from delivering his public message.
Ingushetia has declared three days off in honor of Eid al-Fitr
Society
Ingushetia has declared three days off in honor of Eid al-Fitr
16 March 2026

In honor of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, March 19, 20, and 21 have been declared days off in Ingushetia. According to the head of the republic, Makhmud-Ali Klimatov, this decision was made to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which began on February 17.
The European Union has once again emphasized that Georgia is moving in the
Politics
The European Union has once again emphasized that Georgia is moving in the "wrong direction"
16 March 2026

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, expressed concern about the situation in Georgia, which is "taking a serious turn," emphasizing that the country's government is "moving in the wrong direction." This statement was made ahead of a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the EU member states.