UNHCR appoints Azerbaijani national as new representative for Central Asia

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has appointed Azerbaijani national Mahir Safarli as its new Representative for Central Asia, the organisation announced on February 9, 2026.

Safarli, who brings more than 23 years of experience in humanitarian work with UNHCR, assumed the role on January 1, 2026, Caliber.Az reports, citing UNHCR.

Based at the agency's regional office in Almaty, Kazakhstan, he will oversee UNHCR operations across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

His priorities include strengthening protection systems for refugees, improving asylum procedures and addressing statelessness – a persistent issue in the region stemming largely from the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

On January 21, Safarli presented his credentials to Yerzhan Ashikbayev, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, in Astana. The meeting focused on cooperation priorities, including ongoing partnerships on refugee protection and regional initiatives such as the Almaty Process.

In the coming weeks, he plans to engage further with governments and partners across Central Asia to expand joint efforts in support of refugees and stateless individuals.

Safarli has held senior positions in complex humanitarian crises. Most recently, he served as Deputy Representative in Greece (2023–2025) and in Ukraine (2021–2023).

Earlier roles included senior operational and coordination work in Syria and Türkiye, as well as field, protection and management positions in Afghanistan, Libya, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia and Azerbaijan. He has also worked at UNHCR headquarters in Geneva on inspection and strategic oversight.

He holds master's degrees in law and public administration, a bachelor's in political science, and advanced diplomas in international human rights and humanitarian law, and conflict prevention.

Commenting on his appointment, Safarli said: "I am honoured to take on this role in Central Asia – a region shaped by extraordinary diversity, remarkable cultures, communities, and landscapes, and known for its generosity toward refugees and leadership in addressing statelessness.

I look forward to working closely with governments, partners, and communities to build on this progress – strengthening asylum systems, advancing inclusion, and ensuring that every person can enjoy protection, rights, and a nationality."

UNHCR has maintained a presence in Central Asia since the early 1990s, initially responding to displacement from the 1992–1993 civil war in Tajikistan and conflicts in northern Afghanistan. The agency's work has since shifted towards capacity-building, advocacy and support for stateless populations, with national offices in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and Dushanbe (Tajikistan), plus a global stockpile facility in Termez, Uzbekistan.

By Aghakazim Guliyev