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Beneath the ancient walls of the Shirvanshahs’ Palace, in the heart of Baku’s historic Icherisheher, a musical performance emerged as a powerful connection between generations, Azernews reports.

To mark the International Day of Older Persons and the 140th anniversary of the legendary Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayli, a special event was held: beloved arias from the operetta “The Cloth Peddler” were performed by elderly citizens alongside children from an orphanage.

The event was organized by the Social Services Agency under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, in partnership with the Administration of the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve. It became a powerful symbol of continuity, respect, and love across generations.

With a warm atmosphere, heartfelt emotions, applause, and, of course, the timeless music of Uzeyir Hajibayli, the evening left an indelible mark.

The music brought hearts together, and the ancient palace walls seemed to come alive once more, echoing the soul-stirring performance of “The Cloth Peddler”, now imbued with even deeper meaning.

The International Day of Older Persons is observed every year on October 1, a date designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1990. The day aims to raise awareness about the issues and challenges faced by the elderly, promote their well-being, and recognize their contributions to society. It serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting older generations, ensuring their rights, and providing opportunities for their participation in social, economic, cultural, and political life. The theme of the day varies each year, focusing on specific aspects of aging, such as health, financial security, or social inclusion.

In Azerbaijan, the International Day of Older Persons holds particular significance as the country has a growing aging population. The government and various organizations mark the occasion with events, cultural programs, and community activities aimed at honoring the elderly.

These celebrations emphasize respect, dignity, and appreciation for the elderly, with a focus on their role in preserving traditions and passing on knowledge to younger generations.

‘We invest in early-stage startups, with ‘FinTech’-financial technologies-being one of our main areas of focus. One of our portfolio companies is the Azerbaijan-based startup ePoint, which is also a partner of this event, making their presence here especially meaningful for us,’ said Gnc? Önr, Managing Partner at Startup Wise Guys, a European venture fund, speaking at the Baku Fintech Forum 2025, Azernews reports.

According to Önr, FinTech is not limited to a single sector but encompasses more than 20 subfields. ‘The concept of ‘money’ goes far beyond payments. Many areas that touch people’s daily lives fall under this umbrella.’

She added, ‘When looking at FinTech overall, it ranks among the top three sectors for venture capital investments not only in Turkey and Azerbaijan but globally.’

A strong FinTech ecosystem, she emphasized, reflects not only the success of companies in the sector but also the robustness of a country’s banking system. ‘This facilitates smoother international money transfers and attracts attention from global investors and multinational companies, leading to increased capital flow and economic growth.’

For Startup Wise Guys, FinTech is more than just an investment area-it’s a sector that influences entire ecosystems. Given its direct connection to money and finance, regulation is inevitable and often stringent, due to the inherent risks involved.

‘While regulations, permits, and licenses may pose challenges for startups looking to enter FinTech, overcoming these barriers ultimately provides a protective framework,’ Önr explained. ‘Trust and reliability are essential in this field.’

When evaluating FinTech startups, the fund prioritizes the quality of the team. ‘Strong, knowledgeable, and experienced teams are the most important criterion for us. Even if a startup hasn’t launched a product yet, we assess whether they are working with the right partners and actively building relationships within the ecosystem. We also check if they have done their homework-research, analysis, awareness of competition, and regulatory requirements. These factors are crucial.’

Önr concluded by emphasizing FinTech’s strategic importance for venture capital investors: ‘There is a saying in the industry: ‘Every startup will eventually become a FinTech startup.’ FinTech appeals not only to companies operating directly in financial technologies but also to startups in other fields.’

She noted that the world’s largest venture funds actively invest in FinTech despite its challenges. ‘These challenges exist to protect the sector. Rather than fighting the regulatory environment, entrepreneurs should focus on understanding the reasons behind the rules and learning how to navigate them. This is one of the most valuable skills for founders.’

In the evolving landscape of global politics, few regions illustrate the complexity of transformation as vividly as the post-Soviet space. More than three decades after the collapse of the USSR, the newly independent republics continue to navigate a delicate balance between sovereignty and dependence, reform and inertia. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), established as a mechanism to preserve cooperation among former Soviet republics, has gradually turned into a reflection of these contradictions – an organization caught between nostalgia for the old order and the search for a new identity.

Among these, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) became both a symbolic and practical instrument for Russia to preserve its influence over the former Soviet republics. Yet only a few of these states managed to turn post-Soviet challenges into opportunities. Azerbaijan stands out as a remarkable example: despite the devastating consequences of war, occupation, and nearly one million refugees and internally displaced persons, it has transformed into one of the most successful and stable countries in the region.

Azerbaijan not only restored its territorial integrity through military strength and diplomatic resolve but also reintegrated its liberated lands into the national economic framework. Today, peace in the South Caucasus brings dividends that extend beyond the region itself. Baku’s stability and development have generated new political and economic realities, opening vast opportunities for trade, investment, and regional cooperation.

Following its victory, Azerbaijan assumed the role of initiator in the peace process – one grounded in the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Washington meeting held on August 8 this year became a reflection of this success, symbolizing Azerbaijan’s diplomatic maturity and President Ilham Aliyev’s strategic leadership in regional affairs.

Today, President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Dushanbe, at the invitation of Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, to attend the CIS Heads of State Summit marks another chapter in this evolving narrative. The summit, however, takes place under entirely new geopolitical circumstances.

Russia-Azerbaijan relations remain cautious and somewhat cool, though both sides express readiness to discuss accumulated issues – as confirmed in a positive tone by Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov ahead of the Aliyev-Putin meeting in Dushanbe. Meanwhile, the long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, once deemed insoluble, is nearing its conclusion. In Central Asia, a new dynamic is unfolding: countries of the region are rapidly deepening ties with the European Union, filling the strategic gap left by Russia, which remains entangled in its war against Ukraine. Political and economic interest in Central Asia has grown more sharply than at any time in the past three decades. This expansion of interests starts in the South Caucasus region. The CIS countries are just a few steps away from regional integration, and the one missing the opportunity in this process appears to be its founder, Russia.

In fact, Azerbaijan has become a key actor in this transformation. Through strengthening cooperation with CIS states – particularly those in Central Asia – it is positioning itself as a vital hub for trade, energy, and transport. This approach is a core element of Azerbaijan’s long-term strategy, which views CIS countries not merely as markets or transit partners, but as integral participants in shaping a single space of stability, energy cooperation, and connectivity stretching from the Caspian Sea to Europe.

Between January and August 2025, Azerbaijan’s trade turnover with CIS countries exceeded $5 billion, reflecting a steady upward trajectory. According to the State Customs Committee, this accounted for over 15 percent of Azerbaijan’s total trade turnover – a clear indication that Baku’s economic integration with the region continues to deepen. Yet for Azerbaijan, this cooperation transcends numbers. It is rooted in shared history, cultural proximity, and collective challenges – the very foundations of long-term regional partnership.

Under Azerbaijan’s leadership, initiatives that once existed only on paper have evolved into tangible projects with measurable impact. Transport corridors connecting East and West, cross-border energy networks, and the rise of the Organization of Turkic States all represent the broader architecture of a new regional order. Interestingly, while these integrative processes expand, it is Russia, once the architect of post-Soviet unity, that now hesitates to fully engage.

The landscape is changing. A new phase has begun, marked by strategic pragmatism and the redefinition of interests. Russia, while still capable of influencing outcomes, can no longer unilaterally dictate them. The regional “chessboard” is vast, and the objective for every player is to secure maximum advantage – but increasingly on their own terms.

The future of the post-Soviet region lies not in isolation or submission but in what can be called sovereign pragmatism – the ability of each state to derive benefit from global engagement without compromising its independence. The foundations are shifting, from military-security paradigms to economic and monetary frameworks. Reforms are essential – not through the templates of Brussels or Moscow, but through nationally driven models that serve domestic needs.

Foreign prescriptions rarely bring lasting prosperity. True stability and progress come when nations pursue their own formula for success – when they take the best the world offers, but only within the limits of their sovereignty and self-interest.

The two-day CIS summit officially begins today in Dushanbe, providing a critical platform to assess the evolving dynamics within the post-Soviet space. As the discussions unfold, we will observe which alliances are reinforced and the likely direction of political and economic processes.

On October 9, Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, held a one-on-one meeting with Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, in Dushanbe, Azernews reports.

Addressing the meeting, President Vladimir Putin said:

– Dear Ilham Heydarovich!

We recently met, albeit rather briefly, in Beijing. We had spoken several times on the phone prior to that.

I would like to begin our meeting with the most sensitive topic – the aviation tragedy that occurred in our airspace. Even back then, in our first phone conversation, I not only apologized for the fact that the tragedy occurred in Russian skies, but also expressed my sincere condolences to the families of the victims. I would like to reiterate all of that and say that, as we agreed, we are certainly providing every possible assistance to the investigation.

The investigation is nearing completion, and we can now talk about the general causes of this tragedy, this catastrophe. It is connected with a number of circumstances.

The first is that a Ukrainian drone was in the sky. We were tracking three such drones that had crossed the Russian border on the night of the tragedy.

The second reason is associated with some technical malfunction of the Russian air defense system itself. The two missiles that were fired did not directly hit the aircraft (had that happened, it would have crashed on the spot), but exploded, perhaps through self-destruction, a few meters away, around 10 meters. This is how damage was caused – primarily not by warhead fragments themselves but most likely by debris from the missiles. This explains why the pilot mistook the impact for a collision with a flock of birds, which he reported to Russian air traffic controllers – all of which is recorded in the so-called ‘black boxes’. He was advised, and this is clearly recorded in the black boxes, to land in Makhachkala, but he decided to return to his home airport and then to Kazakhstan. Nevertheless, the facts remain as they are.

I have just outlined the causes of the tragedy. All of this is stated in the documents, following a thorough analysis of the technical characteristics of what happened and a second-by-second interpretation of the so-called ‘black box’ recordings.

We also discussed this topic afterwards. Of course, the Russian side will do everything that is required in such tragic situations in terms of compensation. A legal assessment will also be given to the actions of all officials.

Of course, any words associated with this tragedy aimed at supporting or providing some moral consolation to the families will not solve the main problem – they can’t bring back to life the people who died as a result of the tragedy.

However, let me repeat that our duty, and we agreed on this from the very beginning, is to provide an objective assessment of everything that happened and identify the true causes. But it takes time. It will probably take some more time to finally bring the matter to a close. But overall, I have basically outlined to you what I was briefed on just the day before our meeting, yesterday, and the day before. Frankly, I even called Moscow last night and asked if there were any additional details. I have told you practically everything I know. This is the first part.

Secondly. I would like to point out that, despite this, our interests, our mutual interests, align closely and are very similar. First and foremost, of course, this concerns trade and economic ties. Despite all the nuances associated with the tragedy I just mentioned and certain issues that arose in connection with that, despite all that, trade and economic ties have developed and continue to develop successfully. Last year, they grew by about 6 percent, while this year the turnover has already increased by over 16 percent. This is a very good indicator.

Thanks to your attention to this issue, our humanitarian ties have always been at a high level. But we will talk about that a bit later. We are grateful to you, first of all, for this, and, of course, secondly, we will do everything for our part to maintain this momentum.

And, of course, the situation in the region, the situation on international platforms in general – our foreign ministries have always worked together very closely. I do hope that this cooperation will not simply be restored, but will also be continued in the spirit of our relations, in the spirit of our alliance. We never forget about this; we remember the agreement that was recently signed, and we will do everything we can to implement all its main provisions.

Thank you.

x x x

Speaking next, President Ilham Aliyev said:

– Thank you very much, Vladimir Vladimirovich.

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to you for the meeting. As you mentioned, we had a brief conversation in Beijing, and just two days ago, I called you on your birthday. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you once again and wish you, your family, and the friendly people of Russia all the best.

I also extend my special thanks for the detailed information regarding the tragedy last December involving the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane. We were in immediate contact. As you recall, on that tragic day, I was flying to a meeting in St. Petersburg, and when I was informed about the incident, I called you directly from the plane, and we expressed our condolences. I also asked you to convey to our colleagues, who were also expected to participate in that event, that, for objective reasons, I would not be able to attend the informal CIS summit.

I would also like to thank you for your personal oversight of this situation. Since we have repeatedly exchanged views and our teams have maintained regular contact, and given your personal attention to the investigation, we had no doubt that it would thoroughly and objectively establish all the circumstances. Therefore, I would like once again to express my gratitude that you deemed it important to address this issue during our meeting.

As you noted, our relations have developed successfully this year not only in trade and economic areas but also across all other fields. There is strong momentum in the growth of trade turnover, and no slowdown or setbacks have been observed in any other area. On the contrary, the roadmaps we approved are being successfully implemented.

A meeting of the Azerbaijan-Russia Intergovernmental Commission was also held recently, where the co-chairs discussed a wide range of issues in detail – not just trade and economic matters.

Of course, today we have a good opportunity to review the agenda again. It is quite extensive and positive. Once again, thank you very much for this information, and I am confident that the messages we are sending to our societies today will be positively received.

President Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

As a result of Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan, open-court hearings continued on October 9 in the criminal cases concerning citizens of the Republic of Armenia – Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others – accused of committing numerous crimes, including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, preparation and conduct of an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, violent seizure and retention of power, and other offenses.

According to Azernews, the hearing was held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samedova) also presiding. Each of the accused was provided with interpreters in their native language and defense lawyers.

The session was attended by the defendants, their lawyers, some of the victims, their legal successors and representatives, as well as prosecutors representing the state.

At the beginning of the hearing, documents regarding mercenary fighters involved in military operations were announced.

Documents received from various Azerbaijani state bodies were read out, and relevant photographs were displayed.

According to a document dated October 24, 2020, during the 44-day Patriotic War, Armenia made significant efforts to compensate for its battlefield losses by recruiting foreign citizens into its armed forces operating in the occupied sovereign territories of Azerbaijan.

In particular, the Armenian government and Armenian diaspora organizations in third countries issued urgent calls for members of the Armenian community to join the fighting in those occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Special ticket sales campaigns were organized abroad, and recruitment centers were established. As a result, foreign fighters from France, the United States, Syria, the Russian Federation, and other countries participated in combat operations in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories. Terrorist organizations such as ‘VoMA’ (a military training center based in Yerevan), ASALA, and others were also involved in the fighting.

According to another document, the ‘VoMA’ organization was founded by Vladimir Vartanov, a close associate of former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, as well as a friend of Alek Yenigomshyan, an active member of the ASALA terrorist organization.

The organization’s military training sessions were held in the Jermuk and Dilijan regions of Armenia during winter, and in the mountainous areas of Kesd?k village of Kalbajar (formerly occupied by Armenia) and Bjni village in Armenia during summer.

Military trainings were conducted by Armenian citizens Vardan Enokyan, Samvel Galstyan, Bagrat Beglaryan, Artak Bagratyan, Levon Gevorgyan, Badal Safaryan, Gor Melkonyan, Garegin Bagdyan, and Spartak Hovanesyan.

The group’s head was Gevorg Grigoryan; Edgar Arshakyan was responsible for accommodation, Gosh Galstyan for food, and the chief instructor was Vaginak Vartanov, son of Vladimir Vartanov.

Coordination of ‘VoMA’ activities with Armenians living in Russia was carried out by Gayane Arturovna Tananyan, an honorary member of the Russian branch of the ‘Yerkrapa’ organization and a citizen of the Russian Federation.

Funding for ‘VoMA’ was mainly provided by donations from Russia, the United States, France, Austria, and Lebanon, as well as financial contributions from Armenian businessmen and membership fees paid by participants.

Another document stated that ‘VoMA’ leader Vladimir Vartanov was born in Yerevan in 1965, served as an advisor to former Armenian Defense Minister Vazgen Sargsyan in 1992, and supports the ideology of Nazi collaborator Garegin Nzhdeh, which emphasizes the ‘necessity of self-defense.’

It was noted that beginning on September 27, 2020, during the battles in the Sugovushan direction, citizens of Lebanon, France, and the United States fought on the side of the Armenian armed forces.

A ‘volunteer’ detachment of foreign fighters was led by a Lebanese citizen known as ‘Baron Norik.’ Among the group were two individuals named Hakop – one from Lebanon and one from the United States.

A French citizen, Gilbert Minasyan, who had ties to ASALA, admitted that he had sent 15 ethnic Armenian citizens of France to fight in Azerbaijan’s formerly occupied territories. Foreign citizens Artur Oganisyan (France), Stefan Keshishyan (Syria), Gevorg Khachyan (Lebanon), Armen Knyazyan (Spain), Arushan Badasyan (United States) and others also participated voluntarily in the fighting against Azerbaijan.

According to the announced document, Armen Knyazyan was a friend of Arayik Harutyunyan and had also fought in the April 2016 battles.

It was further stated that Armen Artavazdi Knyazyan, born in 1974, had moved to Germany for work, then relocated with his family to Spain, where he obtained citizenship. He owned three restaurants named El Italiano Giorgio in Lloret de Mar (Girona). When the Patriotic War began in 2020, he and his cousins Sarkis and Norik came to Azerbaijan’s occupied territories and took part in combat operations as part of the Armenian armed forces. After his death, he was posthumously awarded the title of ‘hero’ by the illegal regime.

It was also mentioned that Artur Oganisyan, who came from Marseille, France, participated in combat operations conducted by the Armenian armed forces in the Hadrut and Jabrayil regions of Azerbaijan during the 2020 Patriotic War.

According to another document, during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, mercenaries and members of terrorist organizations from Syria, Russia, Spain, Canada, France, Greece, Lebanon, and countries of the Middle East and Latin America fought alongside Armenian armed forces against the Azerbaijani army.

Initially, such mercenaries were invited to train Armenian military personnel in reconnaissance, sabotage, terrorism, and demolition, but later they were directly engaged in combat operations.

The court also reviewed documents concerning the shelling of civilian settlements in Tovuz and Gazakh districts in July 2020, the killing of five people in a GAZ-53 truck on August 27, 1992 in Gulustan village of Goranboy district, the shooting of Azerbaijani civilians in the same village on September 19, 1992, and the murders of Aynur Yagubova (daughter of Hashtarkhan), Firdovsi Aslanov (son of Bayram), Kamran Aslanov (son of Ramiz), and other victims on June 26, 1993.

The court hearing will continue on October 10.

It should be noted that 15 defendants are charged in the criminal case concerning numerous crimes committed during the course of the aggressive war waged by the Armenian state and its criminal organizations, under the direct leadership and participation of Armenian officials and military personnel – including Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan, Vazgen Manukyan, Vazgen Sargsyan, Samvel Babayan, Vitali Balasanyan, Zori Balayan, Seyran Ohanyan, Arshavir Qaramyan, and Monte Melkonian – and with financial, technical, and personnel support provided under their centralized command and supervision.

The defendants Arayik Vladimirovich Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshavirovich Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Ruben Ishkhanyan, David Azat Manukyan, David Klim Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Robert Ghazaryan, Davit Nelson Allahverdyan, Gurgen Homer Stepanyan, Levon Romik Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and Melikset Vladimirovich Pashayan are charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan:

Article 100 (planning, preparation, initiation, and conduct of an aggressive war),

Article 102 (attacks against persons or organizations enjoying international protection),

Article 103 (genocide),

Article 105 (extermination of population),

Article 106 (enslavement),

Article 107 (deportation or forced displacement of population),

Article 109 (persecution),

Article 110 (enforced disappearance of persons),

Article 112 (unlawful deprivation of liberty in violation of international law),

Article 113 (torture),

Article 114 (mercenarism),

Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of war),

Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict),

Article 118 (military looting),

Article 120 (intentional homicide),

Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship),

Article 214 (terrorism),

Article 214-1 (financing of terrorism),

Article 218 (creation of a criminal organization),

Article 228 (illegal acquisition, possession, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, or carrying of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and explosive devices),

Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation safety),

Article 277 (attempt on the life of a state or public figure),

Article 278 (violent seizure or retention of power and forcible change of the constitutional order),

Article 279 (creation of illegal armed groups or formations), and other relevant provisions of the Criminal Code.

As part of Azerbaijan’s adopted digital development strategy, the government prioritizes delivering digital transformation and innovative services to the public sector, businesses, and civil society.

Shahin Aliyev, Deputy Chairman of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, emphasized this during his speech at the panel titled ‘A New Playground for Cybercriminals: ‘Smart Cities”, Azernews reports.

Shahin Aliyev stated, ‘Digital government is not limited to the concepts of ‘smart cities’ or ‘smart villages.’ Government services must be delivered entirely paperless, fostering a culture of data protection and informed decision-making. Simultaneously, the private sector should leverage government data to optimize services and accelerate digital transformation. Throughout the entire ecosystem, cybersecurity must be considered a core component.’

He added that working groups have been established to build the digital government architecture. Measures are underway to assess cybersecurity standards across public and private sectors and to integrate these standards into a unified architecture.

There is positive momentum in the development of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Dushanbe, Azernews reports.

‘As you noted, not only trade and economic relations but also all other areas have seen successful development this year. There is positive momentum in the growth of trade turnover,’ the head of state said.