From unjustified expectations to an unjustified crisis

As 2024 comes to a close, Azerbaijan finds itself at the crossroads of rapid political, economic, and social changes. The year was marked by key events that highlighted the country's ambitions and challenges, ranging from geopolitical shifts to domestic discontent.

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.