Aliyev comments on reports of secret meeting between German and Russian repres

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said the Azerbaijani authorities first learned about reports of a possible secret meeting between German and Russian representatives in Baku from an article published by The Times, according to the Azerbaijani APA news agency.

Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Aliyev said the Azerbaijani authorities launched an inquiry following the publication.

According to Aliyev, before departing for Berlin, he requested information from Azerbaijan’s State Border Service, which confirmed that the individuals named in the report had been in Azerbaijan during the same period.

Aliyev said that on July 12, Ronald Pofalla, former head of the Federal Chancellery under former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and former German politician Matthias Platzeck arrived in Baku from Berlin and departed on July 14.

On the same day, former Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov and Valery Fadeyev, chairman of the Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, arrived in Baku from Moscow. One of them left Baku on July 13, while the other departed on July 14, Aliyev said.

The Azerbaijani president added that neither Germany nor Russia had informed Baku about the visits.

“I cannot say with certainty that such a meeting took place because we did not witness it. However, the available information provides grounds to assume that such a secret meeting took place in Baku. If it contributes to ending the Russia–Ukraine war, we would, of course, welcome it,” Aliyev said.

He also stressed that the Russia–Ukraine war should end immediately and that peace should be ensured in the region.