Istanbul, April 17, 2026 – The Europe Today: Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova, held a meeting with Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly, Valentina Matviyenko, on the sidelines of the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Istanbul.
During the meeting, Gafarova underscored the importance of international parliamentary platforms such as the IPU and the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network in promoting dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation among nations.
She highlighted the strong potential for further development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, emphasizing the vital role of interparliamentary engagement. Gafarova noted that effective cooperation has already been established between the legislative bodies of both countries, with active participation of parliamentarians in bilateral initiatives as well as international forums.
Matviyenko, for her part, referred to the joint statement issued by the foreign ministries of Azerbaijan and Russia regarding the December 25, 2024 accident near Aktau, expressing condolences and stressing the importance of addressing its consequences. She also conveyed appreciation to Azerbaijan for facilitating the safe evacuation of Russian citizens from Iran amid recent regional tensions.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the current level of bilateral relations and acknowledged the significant role played by the leadership of their respective countries in advancing cooperation across multiple sectors.
