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.
In London, within the framework of the summit of the European Political Community, Nikol Pashinyan refused to meet with Ilham Aliyev. The British side suggested holding a conversation.
Baku views the refusal as a retreat from the peace agenda, said Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev. According to him, “it is completely incomprehensible why Armenia, which talks about peace on various platforms, refuses a meeting that would help advance the peace agenda.”
The politicians previously met on February 17 on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Following its results, Pashinyan and Aliyev gave instructions to the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan to negotiate an agreement on peace and the establishment of interstate relations, as well as on border delimitation.