Half-stated travel warnings from the US embassy in Azerbaijan are starting to make for a mystery thriller, when a character (in this case, an American) finds himself in a strange town surrounded by people who act as if they are privy to secret knowledge of some imminent danger. Friends lean over and whisper to be careful, others say coming here was not a good idea, the area sheriff maintains that everything is going to be okay, but it is unclear what exactly is wrong.
The US embassy in Baku on February 11 repeated its earlier warning of a potential terrorist attack in Azerbaijan that may target American interests. “The threat remains serious,” the alert reads.
In a move that prompted some speculation that matters are indeed serious, Israel’s embassy closed down on February 14 for alleged “technical reasons." It reopened today. Israel recently advised its citizens to avoid visiting Azerbaijan.
As with alert number one, the US embassy told its citizens to be careful, “particularly in public places associated with the Western community.” The embassy also instructed Americans to maintain “an unpredictable daily schedule” and vary everyday routes of travel.
In a less-than-reassuring statement, Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry spokesperson Sadig Gezalo observed that no country is insured against terrorism and added that “all diplomatic missions in Azerbaijan and homes of their employees are guarded to ensure safety.”
Giorgi Lomsadze is a journalist based in Tbilisi, and author of Tamada Tales.
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