Aliyev Appoints New Azerbaijani Cabinet
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 22 October 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Aliyev Appoints New Azerbaijani Cabinet, 22 October 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/527138ae4.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
BAKU -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has appointed his new cabinet three days after his swearing-in for a third term in office.
Aliyev signed a decree on the appointments on October 22.
The new cabinet will be led by veteran Prime Minister Arthur Rasizade.
The most notable change is the replacement of the long-serving defense minister, Safar Abiyev, with Zakir Hasanov, who has commanded Interior Ministry forces.
Abiyev has often been criticized by independent and opposition media for widespread corruption and a growing number of deaths among conscripts in the army.
Hasanov was in charge of riot police forces, who have been involved in putting down opposition protests, and also in the official response to riots in the town of Quba, near Baku, and the central town of Ismayilli earlier this year.
