During the “Orta Gün” program aired on REAL Television, recent political developments were discussed, including the informal CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) summit held in St. Petersburg, President of Azerbaijan’s decision not to attend the meeting, as well as the key political messages delivered by President Ilham Aliyev during his visit to Aghdam on December 24. The discussion also focused on the first anniversary of the downing of an AZAL civilian aircraft in Russian airspace. The program featured Khayal Bashirov, Head of the Center for Political and Legal Studies, and political commentator Ahmad Shahidov as guests.
Speaking during the program, Ahmad Shahidov stated that President Ilham Aliyev’s remarks in Aghdam clearly define Azerbaijan’s political approach in the post-conflict period. He noted that some international capitals mistakenly assumed that Azerbaijan’s humanitarian and economic steps toward Armenia could lead to the crimes committed during the occupation being forgotten. “However, the President delivered a clear message from Aghdam: victory has been achieved, the Great Return has begun, but the suffering inflicted on the Azerbaijani people will never be forgotten. This is not about hostility; it is about national security and preserving historical memory,” Shahidov said.
Ahmad Shahidov also emphasized the double standards demonstrated by international organizations toward Azerbaijan, the lack of an objective investigation into the AZAL aircraft incident even after one year, and the impact of this situation on Azerbaijan–Russia relations. According to him, “The silence surrounding this incident undermines trust. The President’s decision not to attend the informal CIS summit in St. Petersburg should be viewed in this context. It represents Baku’s principled political response to these developments. The message is clear: without justice, normal relations cannot be built.”
