Washington: A group of protesters targeted the vehicle of H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, during his visit to the United States. The incident occurred on 19 February 2026, outside the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, D.C., where President Aliyev was attending the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States stated that the protesters attempted to breach the secured area as the Presidential motorcade approached. The demonstrators engaged in offensive actions against the Presidential vehicle and used inappropriate language directed at Azerbaijan's leadership.

The Presidential Security Service was compelled to intervene immediately due to the serious security concerns posed by attempts to obstruct or physically interfere with the vehicle carrying the head of state. The response was focused on ensuring the safety and security of the President and was consistent with standard protective practices.

The U.S. Secret Service confirmed that the hotel area fell within the official security perimeter. The Azerbaijani Embassy firmly rejected any attempts to misrepresent the security measures taken in response to the actions targeting the country's leader and the protected motorcade.

Azerbaijan's security personnel reportedly coordinated closely with the host country, and the Embassy called for responsible reporting and warned against drawing conclusions based on unverified claims.