Azerbaijani President's Motorcade Targeted in Washington, Embassy Reports Security Threat

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev faced a security threat during his visit to Washington, D.C., when protesters attempted to breach a security cordon near his hotel on February 19.

The incident occurred outside the Waldorf Astoria hotel, where the president was staying to attend the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council. A group of activists gathered and, as the presidential motorcade approached, several individuals tried to break through the security perimeter.

The protesters disrupted the vehicle's movement and shouted offensive slogans directed at Azerbaijan's leadership. The Azerbaijani diplomatic mission stated that security personnel immediately assessed the actions as a serious threat.

The security service took all necessary measures to protect the president, acting strictly within the scope of its authority,

the embassy said. The hotel area was under an official security perimeter at the time, with overall security in the zone provided by U.S. special services, including the U.S. Secret Service.