Former Azerbaijani MP and National Council member Gultekin Hajibeyli says she was detained in Istanbul and may face deportation to Azerbaijan.
The politician reported the incident on her social media accounts, writing that Turkish security officers arrived at the apartment she rents with her son and took her to a local police station.
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“There is no reason for this. I arrived in Turkey on September 25, my three-month stay has not expired, and I also have a two-year residence permit,” she wrote in Azerbaijani. “Most likely, they will deport me at the request of the Azerbaijani government.”
Hajibeyli also claimed that she had informed officers she was scheduled to take an IELTS exam the following morning, but said they refused to delay the detention.
She further linked the incident to the ongoing criminal investigation surrounding Ramiz Mehdiyev, the former head of the Presidential Administration, alleging that “those associated with Mehdiyev” had long created difficulties for her.
Turkish authorities have not issued an official statement on the reasons for her detention. According to her account, she is currently being held at a police department in Istanbul.
Hajibeyli is one of several public figures connected, directly or indirectly, to the sprawling investigation around Ramiz Mehdiyev, who is under house arrest on charges of attempting to seize power, high treason, and money laundering.
New Developments in the Mehdiyev Case: Search at Ali Karimli’s Home
Her detention comes one day after a separate, high-profile operation in Baku involving Ali Karimli, chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP).
On Saturday, the State Security Service (SSS) conducted a search at Karimli’s residence as part of the ongoing investigation linked to Mehdiyev. According to initial reporting by Report, Karimli was not officially detained at the time, though investigators searched his home and reportedly examined his personal documents.
Additional claims surfaced later through ayna.az, which reported—without independent verification – that investigators allegedly discovered documents hinting at ties to the so-called “Union of Billionaires,” as well as what the outlet described as an early draft of a letter attributed to Mehdiyev. The SSS has not confirmed these findings.
In response, APFP deputy chairman Fuad Gahramanli accused investigators of staging the discovery, alleging that officers placed the letter into a desk drawer moments before announcing it had been found. These statements represent the party’s position and have not been independently corroborated.
Searches were also reportedly carried out at the apartment of APFP Presidium member Mammad Ibrahim, who the party says was detained along with several other activists.
APFP condemned the actions as “politically motivated” and claimed authorities were attempting to “eliminate the last independent political force in the country.” The party called for the immediate release of all detained members and urged international organizations to respond.
As of this writing, the State Security Service has not issued an official comment on whether Karimli or others were taken into custody. Investigative actions are reported to be ongoing.
