Anar Valiyev
Anar Valiyev holds Ph.D. in Urban and Public Affairs from University of Louisville in Kentucky. His areas of interest include urban terrorism, public policy of post-Soviet countries, governance and democracy.
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Articles by Anar Valiyev
Azerbaijan Strengthens Its Energy Position in Turkey
Top decision makers, opinion leaders and CEOs of the world’s largest energy companies, including BP, Gazprom, Shell and Total, convened in Istanbul, on October 9–13, for the 23rd World Energy
Russian Iskanders in Yerevan: New Challenges for Azerbaijan’s Security
The military parade dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Armenian independence was held in Yerevan, on September 21, 2016. The event drew considerable attention from Azerbaijan because of the advanced
Can the Ukrainian Crisis Assist in Channeling Azerbaijani Gas to Europe?
The latest Russia-Ukraine crisis has once again revealed the fragility of the energy security environment in Central and Eastern Europe. In particular, Russia’s repeated threats to cut its natural gas
Azerbaijan in 2013: Balancing Between Europe and Russia
A number of important events in Azerbaijan punctuated the past 12 months, and their implications are likely to affect the future development of the country in important ways. Notably, the
Azerbaijan After Vilnius Summit: More Questions than Answers
On November 29, Azerbaijan and the European Union signed a visa-facilitation agreement in Vilnius, Lithuania, within the framework of the Eastern Partnership summit. The agreement was signed by the foreign
Zeynalov’s Case Might Become Turning Point for Azerbaijan
The ethnically charged riots in the Moscow suburb of Biryulyovo in early October, as well as the resulting case of Orkhan Zeynalov—an Azerbaijani citizen charged with sparking the violence—have electrified
Jamestown Analyst Anar Valiyev Interviewed by IBT
On October 10, Baku-based analyst Anar Valiyev was interviewed by the International Business Times on the subject of Israeli weapons sales to Azerbaijan.
Serious Warning from Baku: No Illegal Visits to Karabakh
Azerbaijan has repeatedly warned foreign officials and diplomats over taking unsanctioned visits to the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, saying this contradicts international law. Many governmental agencies in Baku have
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister’s Visit to Israel Sparks New Wave of Tensions with Iran
On April 21–24, Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov visited Israel. This was the first visit of a high-ranking official of Azerbaijan to this country since Baku became independent.
New Wave of Militarization in the Caspian
On March 17, the Iranian navy launched a new Jamaran-2 destroyer in the Caspian Sea. The Iranian establishment, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi and Chief of
Saakashvili’s Visit to Baku Ignites Political Debates
At the end of February 2013, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili paid an official visit to Baku. During the visit, Saakashvili met with his Azerbaijani counterpart, President Ilham Aliyev, and discussed
Old New Faces: What Does Secretary of State John Kerry Mean for Azerbaijan?
The nomination and approval of John Kerry as the next head of the US Department of State did not come as a particular shock for observers inside Azerbaijan. The predictions
Azerbaijan: Difficult Year Ahead
Several key developments in 2012 had a tremendous impact on Azerbaijan and its foreign policy. First of all, the “reelection” of Vladimir Putin as president of Russian could be considered
What Is Behind Aliyev’s Boycott of the CIS Summit?
On December 5, Turkmenistan’s capital of Ashgabat hosted a summit of heads of state of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. The presidents of Moldova, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan did not
Kadyrov’s Visit to Baku: What Are Azerbaijan’s Interests in the North Caucasus?
On November 15, Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov began his two-day visit to Baku. This was the second visit of the Chechen leader to Baku in the last couple of
Summit of ECO Countries Brings No Change
On October 15, Baku hosted the 12th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). The presidents of Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, as well as the prime minister of
Jamestown Analyst Anar Valiyev Cited by EurasiaNet
Jamestown's analyst Anar Valiyev was interviewed by EurasiaNet about Azerbaijan's response to recent Armenian military exercises, which practiced attacking Azerbaijani oil infrastructure.
Launching of New Airport in Karabakh May Lead to Unpredictable Consequences
During the second half of September 2012, several Armenian news agencies reported that Khojali Airport in Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Karabakh was about to be reopened (news.am, September 26). The
New Game in the Caucasus: Implications for Azerbaijan
Following a summer lull, August 2012 became one of the most eventful periods for Azerbaijani politics, featuring several key developments, which may significantly affect the situation in the region. First,
The Spy War Between Iran and Azerbaijan Re-Intensifies
Iranian-Azerbaijani relations, which were recovering from a recent blow (see EDM, April 23), have begun to worsen again. An apparent spy war has erupted between the two countries, leading to
Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan Relations: Shattered Brotherhood
Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan relations, which experienced a significant thaw since the death of Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov (Turkmenbashi), deteriorated again last week (June 19). The most recent conflict began when Turkmenistan started
Military Clashes Between Armenia and Azerbaijan Threaten Stability in Region
The threat of a renewal of war between Azerbaijan and Armenia became increasingly imminent last week as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the region. The governments of both
Bomb Plot Revealed in Baku
On May 30, the Ministry of National Security (MNS) of Azerbaijan reported that two weeks earlier it had neutralized an armed group of Sunni Islamist militants who planned to kill
Azerbaijan’s Military Exercises in the Caspian: Who Is the Target?
In mid-April, Azerbaijan’s State Border Service (SBS) reported on the successful completion of week-long tactical exercises in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. The exercises, called “Protection of Oil
Critical Time for Azerbaijan-Iranian Relations
For the last two months, Azerbaijani-Iranian relations were put under serious stress. Relations between the two countries lacked cordiality for many years; yet, both countries refrained from harsh criticisms and
Undecided Fate of the Gabala Radar Station
The first week of April saw the revival of heated debates about the fate of the Radiolocation Station (RLS) located in the Azerbaijani city of Gabala (100 miles to the
Alleged Iranian and Hezbollah Agents on Trial for Targeting Russian-Operated Radar Station in Azerbaijan
A trial of six people accused of terrorism and other serious crimes began on June 24 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Two Lebanese citizens, Karaki Ali Muhammad and Najmaddin Ali Hussein, were
Who is Behind the Bombing of the Salafi Mosque in Baku?
Three people were killed and 13 wounded in the bombing of Baku’s Abu Bakr mosque during evening prayer on August 17. Witnesses claimed that a young man threw a grenade
Reviving a Forgotten Threat: The PKK in Nagorno-Karabakh
The decades-long war between the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Turkish army has had a significant impact on Azerbaijani politics. Being a staunch ally of Turkey and suffering
The Two Faces of Salafism in Azerbaijan
Much has been said about the activities of Salafis (Sunni Muslims who aspire to follow the example set by the first five generations of Muslims) and their organizations in Azerbaijan.
Terror Attacks Against U.S. and British Embassies Thwarted in Azerbaijan
Escalating threats of Islamist violence in Azerbaijan have prompted a massive government crackdown on militants. For over five years, analysts and political scientists in Azerbaijan have warned of the danger
Azerbaijan Increasingly Caught Between Salafism and Iran
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan became a battleground for many religious groups, sects and radical organizations. Being a predominantly secular society, Azerbaijanis cautiously watched the appearance of
Al-Qaeda in Azerbaijan: Myths and Realities
After the events of September 11 and the subsequent war on terrorism, Azerbaijan became one of the active members of the anti-terrorism coalition. Besides providing a small contingent of troops
Growing Anti-Chechen Sentiment in Azerbaijan
The Chechen factor is one of the controversial issues in the modern history of Azerbaijan. Since the first Russo-Chechen war, Azerbaijan did not pursue a consistent policy concerning the conflict
The Rise of Salafi Islam in Azerbaijan
After the demise of the Soviet Union and the emergence of an ideological vacuum, Azeri society began to embrace religion and observe long forgotten Islamic traditions. Thousands of missionaries from
Growing Anti-Chechen Sentiment in Azerbaijan
The Chechen factor is one of the controversial issues in the modern history of Azerbaijan. Since the first Russo-Chechen war, Azerbaijan did not pursue a consistent policy concerning the conflict