Azerbaijan: Important political events of 2020

On December 18, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to several Russian media outlets. He described Georgia as a "key factor in the West's battle for the Caucasus." President Aliyev also spoke about the significant external influence of Western countries on Georgia's domestic processes, highlighting the operations of thousands of foreign-funded non-governmental organizations (NGOs). He endorsed Russia's decision to ban USAID activities.

Municipal elections in Azerbaijan will be held on January 29, 2025. This was announced at the meeting of the Central Election Commission (CEC) on November 27.

One of the highlights of the recently concluded COP29 was a demonstration by marine mammal conservationists, who showcased a life-sized replica of a whale on Baku Boulevard. Participants sprayed the replica with water hoses, drawing attention to the UN conference on the critical issue of whale hunting.

Michael Bloss, a member of the European Parliament known for his environmental activism, told Euronews on November 1 that European deputies have been advised to exercise caution during COP29, scheduled to be held in Azerbaijan. According to Bloss, prior to traveling to Baku for the summit, they will be provided with disposable phones and laptops.