Azerbaijan reports unauthorized meeting of former German and Russian officials in Baku

President Aliyev disclosed that former high-ranking German and Russian officials held a clandestine meeting in Baku, asserting the Azerbaijani government was not informed. Chancellor Merz denied any official German government involvement, while the nature of the discussions remains unconfirmed. The incident highlights potential back-channel diplomacy efforts regarding the Russia-Ukraine war occurring outside formal state oversight.