Protesters Injured Following Attack by Aliyev's Bodyguards, Case Sent to State Department

Participants in a protest in Washington have reported being attacked by security personnel of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev. The incident occurred near the Waldorf Astoria hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, just a few blocks from the White House.

27-year-old Rahim Yagublu, who works as an Uber driver and whose father is imprisoned in Azerbaijan, stated that he was struck on the jaw and stomach during the peaceful protest demanding the release of political prisoners. Another participant, 35-year-old Adil Amrahli, noted that he sustained a leg injury while attempting to escape, with a total of at least four individuals reported injured.

Ilham Aliyev was in Washington at the time to participate in the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, which included leaders and high-ranking officials from various countries.

Tom Lynch, a spokesperson for the District of Columbia police, confirmed that specialized unit officers and representatives from the U.S. Secret Service were present at the scene. He noted that the case has been referred to the State Department but did not clarify whether the police intervened or if the Azerbaijani security personnel remained in the U.S.

It’s important to mention that Rahim Yagublu is the son of Azerbaijani opposition figure Tofiq Yagublu, who was sentenced to nine years in prison last year on charges of fraud and forgery. Amnesty International has stated that the sentencing was the result of a “show trial.”

Previously, reports indicated that Aliyev's bodyguards had attacked Azerbaijani protesters.