Turkish columnist Jelal Ciftci, who has been placed on Azerbaijan's international wanted list, has publicly apologized to the Azerbaijani state and people for his publications.

Axar.az reports that, in a post on X, Ciftci expressed regret that his posts had offended the Azerbaijani people.

"I regret that my posts offended and disappointed the brotherly Azerbaijani people. I openly and sincerely apologize to the Azerbaijani state and people for using expressions that went beyond what I intended to convey. I respectfully ask that my sincere apology be accepted.

I should have assessed more carefully the potential consequences of the language I used to express my views and expressed myself more clearly and cautiously.

I have never had, nor could I ever have, any intention of interfering in Azerbaijan's internal affairs, inciting its people against the state, creating unrest in the country, calling for the forcible seizure of power or advocating the violent overthrow of the constitutional order.

Azerbaijan is a brotherly state, and the Azerbaijani people are our brothers. I fully respect the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan. I recognize that decisions concerning Azerbaijan's future belong to the Azerbaijani people and the country's own constitutional institutions."

It should be noted that Jelal Ciftci shared and repeatedly circulated social media materials calling for the forcible seizure of power and violent changes to Azerbaijan’s constitutional order, as well as content inciting religious hatred and promoting religious extremism.

The materials included AI-generated content and repeated calls promoting radical views under various headings.

Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office said Ciftci had been charged in connection with the case and placed on an international wanted list.