Latest news with #Aliyev
Reuters
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Azerbaijan hands down long prison terms to seven journalists amid media crackdown
BAKU, June 20 (Reuters) - A court in Azerbaijan sentenced seven journalists to jail terms ranging from 7-1/2 to nine years on Friday after finding them guilty of smuggling, in what international press freedom advocates have described as a politically motivated case. Six of the defendants are affiliated with Abzas Media, an independent outlet focused on corruption and human rights in the South Caucasus country, which ranks 167th of 180 countries in Reporters without Borders' World Press Freedom Index. Abzas Media's editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi, director Ulvi Hasanli, translator Mahammad Kekalov, staff journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova, and freelance journalist Hafiz Babali all denied the charges. Their lawyers said they would appeal. The seventh defendant, Farid Mehralizada - who received a nine-year sentence and also maintained his innocence - is a reporter with the Azeri language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), an outlet funded by the U.S. government. In a statement, RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus condemned the trial as a "sham" and said Mehralizada should be released home to his family. President Ilham Aliyev, in power since 2003, has rejected criticism over the arrests of journalists and said Azerbaijan has "a free press and a free internet." The first arrests in the case were made in November 2023 after authorities said they had found 40,000 euros ($41,000) in cash in Abzas Media's Baku offices. Several other media workers have been arrested on similar charges of smuggling in recent years in Azerbaijan, an oil-rich country of 10 million people. The case against the seven journalists drew condemnation from global press freedom groups and the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden, with his secretary of state, Antony Blinken, calling for their release last year.
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Armenian PM in Turkiye for ‘historic' visit aimed at normalising ties
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is on a rare visit to Istanbul to hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in what Yerevan has described as a 'historic' step towards regional peace. The visit forms part of the two countries' efforts to normalise ties strained over historical disputes and Ankara's alliance with Azerbaijan, which has been in a long-simmering conflict with Armenia. 'This is a historic visit, as it will be the first time a head of the Republic of Armenia visits Turkiye at this level. All regional issues will be discussed,' Armenian parliament speaker Alen Simonyan told reporters on Friday. 'The risks of war [with Azerbaijan] are currently minimal, and we must work to neutralise them. Pashinyan's visit to Turkiye is a step in that direction.' Pashinyan's visit comes a day after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held talks in Turkiye with Erdogan, during which he praised the Turkish-Azerbaijani alliance as 'a significant factor, not only regionally but also globally', and Erdogan reiterated his support for 'the establishment of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia'. Baku and Yerevan agreed on the text of a peace deal in March, but Baku has since outlined a host of demands, including changes to Armenia's constitution, that it wants met before it will sign the document. Pashinyan is scheduled to meet Erdogan at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace at 15:00 GMT, Erdogan's office said. An Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs official told the AFP news agency that the pair will discuss efforts to sign a comprehensive peace treaty. The regional fallout from the Israel-Iran conflict, which began last Friday when Israel launched several waves of air strikes targeting Iran's nuclear facilities and military sites, will also be discussed. Armenia and Turkiye have never established formal diplomatic ties, and their shared border has been closed since 1993. Relations between the two nations have been historically strained over the World War I-era mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire – atrocities historians and Yerevan say amount to genocide. Turkiye rejects the label, contending that while many people died in that era, the death toll is inflated and the deaths resulted from civil unrest. Ankara has also backed its close ally, Turkic-speaking Azerbaijan, in the long-running Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia. This region, which had a mostly ethnic Armenian population at the time, broke away from Azerbaijan with support from Armenia in the late 1980s. In 2020, Turkiye backed Azerbaijan in its second war with Armenia, which ended after six weeks with a Russia-brokered peace deal that saw Azerbaijan gain control of a significant part of the region. Pashinyan has actively sought to normalise relations with both Baku and Ankara. Ankara and Yerevan appointed special envoys in late 2021 to lead a normalisation process, and resumed commercial flights in 2022 after a two-year pause. Earlier this year, Pashinyan announced Armenia would halt its campaign for international recognition of the 1915 mass killings of Armenians as genocide – a major concession to Turkiye that sparked widespread criticism at home. Pashinyan's first visit to Turkiye was to attend Erdogan's inauguration in 2023. This is Ankara and Yerevan's second attempt at reconciliation. Turkiye and Armenia reached an agreement in 2009 to establish formal relations and open their shared border, but the deal was never ratified because of strong opposition from Azerbaijan.
Business Recorder
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PM praises bravery of Azeri people
LACHIN (Azerbaijan): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for unity, peace and justice in the region while highlighting the deepening bonds among Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, declaring the relationship as now 'three souls and one heart.' In his address at the Independence Day Ceremony of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Lachin, PM Shehbaz praised the leadership and bravery of the Azerbaijani people, who under President Aliyev's 'visionary and dynamic leadership' liberated the region of Karabakh after decades of occupation. The addressing dignitaries also included President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye. Pakistan, Azerbaijan vow to diversify partnership 'It is a matter of great honour to be here today, celebrating both Azerbaijan's Independence Day and Pakistan's Youm-e-Takbeer — the day we became a nuclear power in 1998,' the Prime Minister stated, underscoring the symbolic significance of May 28 for both nations. In his address, the Prime Minister expressed heartfelt congratulations to the people of Azerbaijan and paid tribute to the sacrifices of their armed forces and martyrs. He emphasized the unwavering support that Pakistan and Turkey provided during Azerbaijan's struggle for territorial integrity. 'When Armenia attacked Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkey stood like a rock beside it. And today, when India attacked Pakistan, President Erdogan and President Aliyev stood like a formidable fortress beside us. This is true brotherhood,' Shehbaz Sharif said. The Prime Minister spoke candidly about recent hostilities between India and Pakistan. Referring to the April 22 incident in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed, he condemned India's immediate blame on Pakistan without evidence. 'Pakistan offered an international inquiry commission for a free and transparent probe, but instead, India launched a deadly attack that killed 36 innocent Pakistanis, including children,' he revealed. 'We had no choice but to defend our nation.' Shehbaz detailed Pakistan's military response, describing the downing of six Indian fighter jets — including four Rafales — and significant damage to Indian military installations. He praised the composure and leadership of Pakistan's armed forces, particularly Air Chief and Field Marshal COAS Asim Munir, for a swift and measured retaliation. 'At 9 am, Field Marshal Asim Munir informed me that India had requested a ceasefire. I said, Allah Almighty has granted us a glowing victory — we must now act wisely, not prolong the conflict.' Shehbaz Sharif also turned attention to other global humanitarian crises, particularly in IIOJK and Gaza. 'The valley of Kashmir is red with the blood of freedom fighters. Despite tyranny and brutality, they stand firm in their pursuit of freedom — a right enshrined in UN Security Council resolutions,' he said, reaffirming Pakistan's unwavering support. Addressing the tragedy in Gaza, PM Shehbaz condemned the ongoing atrocities: 'Over 52,000 Palestinians — children, women, the elderly — have been martyred. Their blood stains the streets of Gaza. There is no modern precedent to this level of brutality.' He called on the international community to awaken its conscience and echoed global praise for President Erdogan's vocal advocacy for the oppressed. 'Let our voices rise — in the name of God — to demand a ceasefire and justice for the people of Gaza.' Describing the trilateral meeting between Pakistan, Turkey, and Azerbaijan as 'productive and inspiring,' PM Shehbaz concluded his address with a call for regional unity and enduring friendship. 'Our flags today flutter high — as emblems of unity, hope, and strength,' he said, adding, 'We will continue to stand with our brothers and sisters, whether in Karabakh, Kashmir, or Gaza. This is our shared commitment, our shared destiny.'
Express Tribune
28-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Shehbaz, Aliyev pledge to diversify strategic ties
Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev reaffirmed on Tuesday the shared commitment to diversifying the bilateral strategic partnership through investment in mutually beneficial avenues, said a news release issued from the Prime Minister's Office. Shehbaz met with President Aliyev in the city of Lachin for talks on "the full spectrum of bilateral relations". During the meeting, both sides underscored the importance of coordinated efforts for regional stability and reiterated their principled positions on key international issues. The talks on Azerbaijan's Independence Day and on the eve of a trilateral summit of Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Turkiye, added a symbolic dimension to the exchange between the two leaders. Shehbaz felicitated President Aliyev on this important national occasion. The prime minister thanked Azerbaijan for its steadfast support during the recent Pakistan-India confrontation and acknowledged the public expressions of solidarity from both the leadership and the people of brotherly Azerbaijan. Shehbaz noted that the people of Azerbaijan celebrated the success of Pakistan in Maarka-e-Haq. He added that both the countries had stood by each other on every occasion and would continue to do so, the news release stated. "The two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over the upward trajectory of political, economic, defence, and cultural cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan," read the news release. "They reaffirmed their shared commitment to diversifying the strategic partnership through investment in mutually beneficial avenues," it said, adding that the Azerbaijan side agreed that delegation-level talks in this regard would be organised very soon. The prime minister noted that holding the bilateral meeting in Lachin, a city that reflects Azerbaijan's journey of resilience and restoration, carried deep symbolic and emotional significance for both sides, according to the news release. The meeting concluded with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to deepening the Pakistan-Azerbaijan partnership and working closely to further advance their shared objectives at the bilateral and regional levels. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarrar and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi were also present on the occasion. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)
Business Recorder
27-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PM Shehbaz, President Aliyev reaffirm strategic ties in Lachin meeting
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday, ahead of a trilateral summit between Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye. The meeting, which coincides with Azerbaijan's Independence Day, was held in Lachin – a city that reflects Azerbaijan's resilience and post-conflict recovery. The high-level Pakistani delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi. PM Shehbaz arrives in Azerbaijan During the talks, the two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, expressing satisfaction over the growing momentum in political, economic, defence, and cultural ties. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expand the strategic partnership through joint investments and mutually beneficial initiatives. Prime Minister Sharif extended heartfelt congratulations to President Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on their national day, and appreciated the warm expressions of solidarity shown by Baku during the recent Pakistan-India tensions. He acknowledged the vocal support of the Azerbaijani leadership and public, saying that 'the people of Azerbaijan celebrated Pakistan's success in the Maarka-e-Haq against India.' Pakistan, Iran vow to boost military ties as Field Marshal Munir meets Iranian leadership: ISPR President Aliyev and Prime Minister Sharif agreed to strengthen investment cooperation, with both countries set to initiate delegation-level talks shortly to explore potential avenues. Both sides also emphasised coordinated efforts to promote regional stability, economic integration, and principled positions on global issues. The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge to deepen Pakistan-Azerbaijan ties and enhance collaboration at the bilateral and multilateral levels.
