Baku:The Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) has issued a response to circulating social media reports suggesting that Ramiz Mehdiyev would appoint Isa Habibbayli to a position within the academy.

According to Azeri-Press news agency, the ANAS Public Relations Department labeled the rumors as a provocation against the academy's leadership. It was clarified that during Ramiz Mehdiyev's leadership at ANAS, decisions were made to remove Isa Habibbayli from his position and diminish his authority.

The statement highlighted that on January 8, 2021, under Resolution No. 1/15 of the ANAS Presidium signed by Ramiz Mehdiyev, Isa Habibbayli was dismissed from the position of First Vice-President and made Acting Vice-President. Furthermore, on January 26, 2022, the ANAS Presidium, chaired by Ramiz Mehdiyev, decided to split the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, which Habibbayli had led since 2013, reducing his official powers.

The academy further noted that on February 7, 2022, Isa Habibbayli requested dismissal from his role as Vice-President for the Division of Humanities. The statement concluded that the claims of Mehdiyev appointing Habibbayli seem to be a smear campaign exploiting the current situation.