New details have emerged regarding the protest action held on February 19 in front of the hotel where President Ilham Aliyev was staying in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the incident occurred during the head of state's visit to participate in the inaugural meeting of the "Board of Peace" chaired by US President Donald Trump.
During the incident in front of the Waldorf Astoria hotel, a group of individuals attempted to commit a provocation by chanting offensive slogans against the Azerbaijani leadership. Order was restored following the intervention of security forces, who prevented the individuals from entering the protected zone. Investigations have since identified several participants of the action, including Adil Amrahli, a Russian citizen who moved to the US in 2022; Rahim Yagublu, the son of opposition figure Tofig Yagublu and a member of the Musavat Party; and Bakhtiyar Abbasov, a Russian citizen who left Azerbaijan in 2015. Other participants identified include Khilas Isayev, Kanan Jafarov, and Tural Alakbarli. Reports indicate that many of the participants have backgrounds linked to the Russian Federation, where they resided for an extended period before moving to Western countries.
The visit takes place against the backdrop of strengthening bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the United States under the administration of US President Donald Trump. The "Board of Peace" initiative serves as a high-level platform for global leaders to discuss regional security and diplomatic cooperation. Azerbaijan, as a key strategic partner in the South Caucasus, plays a significant role in these international forums, particularly regarding energy security and the stabilization of the region following the restoration of its territorial integrity.
