Ramiz Mehdiyev The charges were reportedly revealed to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev by Russian President Vladimir Putin. As of mid-October 2025, former Azerbaijani politician Ramiz Mehdiyev is under house arrest following charges of treason and attempting to seize power with Russian support. Recent developments Charged with treason: Mehdiyev was placed under a four-month house arrest by a Baku court, which cited his advanced age of 87. The charges include treason, forcible seizure of power, and money laundering. Failed coup plot: According to pro-government media outlets, Mehdiyev allegedly planned a coup and presented it to Russia, which later informed Aliyev. The timing is linked to

Ramiz Mehdiyev

The charges were reportedly revealed to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev by Russian President Vladimir Putin. As of mid-October 2025, former Azerbaijani politician Ramiz Mehdiyev is under house arrest following charges of treason and attempting to seize power with Russian support.
Recent developments
Charged with treason: Mehdiyev was placed under a four-month house arrest by a Baku court, which cited his advanced age of 87. The charges include treason, forcible seizure of power, and money laundering.
Failed coup plot: According to pro-government media outlets, Mehdiyev allegedly planned a coup and presented it to Russia, which later informed Aliyev. The timing is linked to a period of tension between Azerbaijan and Russia earlier in 2025, following a plane crash that Baku blamed on Russian air-defense systems.
Potential motive: Analysis suggests that after a series of public humiliations and the sidelining of his allies in recent years, Mehdiyev may have sought Russian assistance to regain power.
Stripping of honors: Mehdiyev, who holds numerous state awards, may have them revoked by a court decision.
Background
“Gray Cardinal”: Mehdiyev earned the nickname “Gray Cardinal” during his long and powerful career. He served as the head of Azerbaijan’s Presidential Administration for nearly 25 years, from 1995 to 2019.
Dismissal and decline: He was dismissed in 2019, officially to make way for a younger generation, but his public standing later diminished after a controversial family wedding in 2020 violated pandemic restrictions.
Academic role: Following his dismissal from the Presidential Administration, he briefly served as the president of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan before resigning in 2022.
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— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 20, 2025