Azerbaijani President Aliyev Skips Ankara Summit Amid Diplomatic Crisis with Turkey

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will not attend the summit of Turkic states in Ankara, despite a personal invitation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and efforts by Ankara to appease Baku. The absence comes amid an unusual diplomatic crisis between the two close allies, triggered by restrictions on Islamic headwear in Azerbaijani schools.

According to reports in Azerbaijani and Turkish media, Aliyev will skip the summit of the Organization of Turkic States, which is being held in Ankara. Azerbaijan will instead be represented by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. The official explanation from the Azerbaijani Report news agency cited a busy schedule, including attendance at the closing ceremony of an under-15 youth football tournament in Baku. However, the timing has raised questions, particularly since Erdogan personally invited Aliyev during an October 21 phone call. The absence is especially notable as Turkey is set to assume the rotating presidency of the organization from Azerbaijan.

The crisis originated in September when Azerbaijani authorities altered school dress code regulations to restrict items inconsistent with official uniforms and secular education principles. Although the rules do not explicitly mention the hijab, female students wearing Islamic headscarves were reportedly barred from classes. The move drew sharp criticism from Islamist and conservative circles in Turkey. Oktay Saral, a senior adviser to Erdogan, criticized the restrictions on social media and called for their repeal. Baku responded fiercely, with the ruling Azerbaijani party accusing Turkish figures of interfering in internal affairs and attempting to treat Azerbaijan as an inferior partner.

In an attempt to defuse the crisis, Erdogan ordered the dismissal of Saral, who confirmed the decision was made under presidential instructions. According to Middle East Eye, Baku also demanded legal action against Turkish activists and commentators who allegedly insulted Aliyev, as well as the blocking of certain social media accounts. Simultaneously, Azerbaijan barred the entry of 31 Turkish citizens, including journalists and political activists, and issued arrest warrants for seven others. Turkey also reported the arrest of activists linked to an Islamist media outlet that criticized Azerbaijani policies.

The crisis undermines the image of the special relationship between the two nations, long described by the slogan "one nation, two states." Turkey was a key ally of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh wars, and the two maintain extensive security, economic, and energy cooperation. Turkish journalist Ismail Saymaz reported, citing senior Azerbaijani sources, that the phone call between Erdogan and Aliyev did not go well, noting growing resentment in Baku over perceived Turkish condescension. One source warned that bilateral relations will never be the same again, and Aliyev's absence reinforces assessments that the crisis is far from over.