Ramiz Mehdiyev – AM 10/21/2025
Ramiz Mehdiyev, the former Head of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, was placed under four months of house arrest in mid-October 2025 on charges of treason and attempting a coup.
Arrest and charges
Charges: The 87-year-old Mehdiyev is accused of treason, attempting to seize state power by force, and money laundering.
Coup plot: According to reports in Azerbaijani media, Mehdiyev allegedly devised a plan with Russian support to oust President Ilham Aliyev and install a provisional state council with himself as its leader.
Russian involvement: Reportedly, Mehdiyev pitched the plan to Moscow earlier in 2025 during a period of strained relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. However, Russia later betrayed Mehdiyev by informing Aliyev of the plot during a meeting between the two presidents in Dushanbe in October 2025.
Investigation: The charges resulted from an investigation by the State Security Service, which obtained a court order for his house arrest.
Context: Mehdiyev’s dismissal in 2019 and a public scandal involving his granddaughter’s wedding in 2020 are seen as early signs of his falling out of favor.
Background
Political career: Mehdiyev was a powerful figure in Azerbaijani politics, known as the “grey cardinal.” He served as the Head of the Presidential Administration for nearly 25 years under both Heydar Aliyev and Ilham Aliyev.
Academician: After his 2019 dismissal from the presidential administration, he served as the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan from 2019 to 2022.
Current status: He currently remains a member of the Security Council of Azerbaijan.
Ongoing developments: Mehdiyev also faces the potential revocation of his state awards and titles.— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 21, 2025
Day: October 21, 2025
Inside Government is a Q&A series that gives New Yorkers a glimpse inside the role of the elected officials who represent them. This edition of Inside Government with PoliticsNY features New York State Senator Roxanne Persaud. Senator Persaud represents the 19th Senate District in Brooklyn which includes the neighborhoods of Canarsie, East New York, New Lots, Starrett City and Howard Beach.
What piece of legislation are you most proud to have passed in the 2025 session?
There are three that I want to highlight. S 244: Establishes a fiscal cliff task force to conduct a study on fiscal cliffs in the state’s public assistance programs and to make recommendations. S 181: Expands the membership of the interagency task force on trafficking in persons. S00785: Adds medical and health insurance information within the definitions of personal identifying information.
How are you working to better the lives of your constituents?
I advocate for resources that enhance the lives of the constituents. I also introduce legislation based on issues that are affecting my district. I also ask them to be self-advocates by bringing their needs and concerns to my attention. I am always looking for ways to enhance the lives of those whom I represent.
What is one of the lesser-known roles of a senator that you believe constituents should know more about?
Sometimes constituents are surprised to know that I have to be in Albany during the legislative session, not just in the district. I also want them to know that I am their advocate and the office is here as a resource.
As 2025 comes to an end, what do you hope to accomplish in the new year?
I hope that my community will have less gun violence, less housing insecurity, and less food insecurity. I also plan to allocate more resources to support our students and seniors in achieving their goals and thriving.
What influenced you to pursue a career in politics?
I have always been involved in community advancement, but I was not looking for a career in politics. However, the opportunity came my way, and as the saying goes, the rest is history. I was asked to be a candidate for my Assembly District and was elected. Within the year, I was again asked to be the candidate for the vacant Senate seat.
Budapest meeting update
A senior Russian official stated that no agreement had ever been made for the meeting, and preparatory talks between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have been postponed indefinitely. There will not be an imminent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Budapest
Timeline of the proposed Budapest summit
October 17, 2025: Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine during a phone call, with Trump announcing afterward that a summit would take place in Budapest.
October 20, 2025: CNN reports that the preparatory meeting between Rubio and Lavrov was postponed. The Kremlin later denies that a meeting had ever been finalized, saying that “it’s impossible to postpone something that hasn’t been set in stone”.
October 21, 2025: Moscow reports that no precise timeframe has been set for a summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously expressed concerns about being excluded from the talks.— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 21, 2025
