Category: Azer News

There are artists whose presence does not fade with time. They simply change form, living on in the laughter, memory, and cultural imagination of their people.

Nasiba Zeynalova is one of those rare figures in Azerbaijani theatre and cinema.

This year, the 110th anniversary of her birth is being commemorated, celebrating her enduring contribution to Azerbaijani theatre and cinema.

Nasiba Zeynalova developed into a performer who could transform everyday human behavior into unforgettable art.

She is perhaps best known as the “mother-in-law” loved by almost the entire nation, a title she earned for her unforgettable performance in the musical comedy “Mother-in-Law”.

Her artistic home became the Musical Comedy Theatre, where she created a gallery of iconic roles in classical operettas by composers such as Uzeyir Hajibayli and Zulfugar Hajibayov.

Characters like Gulperi, Jahan khala, Senem, Melek khanim, and Kelek khanim were re-imagined through her unique sense of timing, expression, and emotional truth.

Her humor carried a distinctly national spirit-rooted in everyday speech, social observation, and human psychology. On stage, she could shift from warmth to sharp wit in an instant, creating characters such as Jennet khala, Nargile, and Zuleykha that felt both comedic and deeply real. These roles became cultural landmarks, remembered not only for their humor but also for their humanity.

In cinema, her collaboration with the Azerbaijanfilm studio produced a series of enduring characters that entered the golden archive of national film. Whether portraying Fatmanise in “Stepmother”, Telli in “Great Support”, Zuleykha in “Star”, or Jennet khala in “Mother-in-law”, she created screen personalities that audiences instantly recognized as reflections of their own society.

Nasiba Zeynalova’s artistic journey also placed her alongside some of the greatest names in Azerbaijani theatre history, including Lutfeli Abdullayev, Bashir Safaroglu, Hajibaba Baghirov, and Siyavush Aslan.

Together, they formed a stage harmony that defined an entire era. Particularly memorable was the creative trio of Zeynalova, Baghirov, and Aslan, whose performances turned productions such as “Hijran” into landmark works of Azerbaijani theatrical culture.

Nasiba Zeynalova passed away in Baku on March 10, 2004, and was laid to rest in the Alley of Honor. Yet her legacy has not remained in the past.

It continues to live on in every screening of her films, every remembered stage performance, and every new generation discovering the depth behind her humor.

21 April 2026 15:43 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova

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At the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of the IDEA Public Union, another tree-planting campaign was organized in the Gadabay district as part of the spring 2026 season of the large-scale “Green Marathon” environmental initiative, AzerNEWS reports.

According to reports, 4600 Beech and 2000 Eastern plane trees were planted in Shahdag village of Gadabay with the participation of volunteers of IDEA Public Union.

It must be noted that the “Green Marathon”, jointly organized by the IDEA Public Union and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, aims to expand green areas, promote tree-planting traditions, contribute to environmental protection, enrich the country’s floral biodiversity, and raise public awareness on the preservation of green spaces.

Within the framework of the campaign, it is planned to plant approximately two million trees across the country during the autumn planting season of the previous year and the spring 2026 season.

Under the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev, the Great Return to Azerbaijan’s liberated territories continues in a phased and systematic manner. In the latest stage, 92 families, comprising 332 people, have been resettled in the city of Aghdam. These families had previously lived in temporary accommodations across the country, including dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings.

AzerNEWS reports that the returning residents expressed their gratitude for the comprehensive state support provided to them, thanking President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva. They also extended their appreciation to the Azerbaijani Armed Forces for liberating the territories, honoring fallen soldiers and wishing a speedy recovery to veterans.

Former internally displaced person Ofelya Abdullayeva described her return to Aghdam as the greatest happiness of her life. She noted that the Azerbaijani Army demonstrated exceptional professionalism and heroism during the Patriotic War, achieving a historic victory in just 44 days under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Abdullayeva emphasized that returning to her native land after many years holds deep personal meaning, adding that she finds it difficult to fully express her emotions.

Another returnee, Siyavush Aghayev, who departed from Baku to Aghdam on April 21, called the day one of the most memorable moments of his life. He said that the long-awaited dream of returning home has finally become a reality, not only for Aghdam residents but for all former internally displaced persons. Aghayev highlighted that life is being revived in newly constructed settlements and that the return process is progressing step by step.

Similarly, Aghdam native Manzar Aliyeva stated that returning to her hometown after 30 years is an indescribable joy. She noted that despite years of displacement, her longing for her homeland never faded. Now, she plans to rebuild her life in her native city alongside her family. Aliyeva underscored that the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity is a historic achievement made possible by the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and the bravery of the Azerbaijani Army.

The Great Return program continues alongside large-scale reconstruction and development efforts in the liberated territories, ensuring the safe and sustainable resettlement of former internally displaced persons.

The “Young Beekeeper” project, aimed at promoting the employment of young families and ecological entrepreneurship, will be implemented in Yevlakh this time, AzerNEWS reports.

The project has been successfully carried out in various regions of the country since 2021, initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the founder and head of the IDEA Public Union.

A total of 20 young families participating in the project will first take part in theoretical and practical training sessions. After completing the training, participants will be provided with bee colonies, hives, beekeeper suits, honey extraction machines, and other necessary equipment. Young beekeepers will be provided with the necessary conditions for the efficient organization of the production process, and at the same time, they will receive methodological and professional support in the certification, branding, design, and sales strategies of their products.

It should be noted that, since 2021, the “Young Beekeeper” project, initiated by the IDEA Public Union and in partnership with the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation, the State Employment Agency, and the ABAD public legal entity, has supported the establishment of beekeeping farms for more than 80 young families living in various regions of the country.

The purpose of the project is to expand the distribution area of bees, which are among the main protectors of biodiversity, across the country, promote beekeeping as an ecological entrepreneurship model in regions, support environmentally friendly agricultural activities, and increase the production of high-quality natural honey. Additionally, the project aims to contribute to improving the social welfare of young families and ensuring their sustainable employment.

Young people aged 18-35 living in Yevlakh who wish to participate in the “Young Beekeeper” project can send their applications by May 5 through the IDEA Public Union’s hotline “1113: or by email info@ideacampaign.org or by contacting the Yevlakh service department of the State Employment Agency to register.

The “FotoBax” national photography competition is being held by the IDEA Public Union and the “Reza Visual Academy”, AzerNEWS reports.

The competition is being organized under the patronage of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Founder and Chairperson of the IDEA Public Union, and with the initiative of Reza Deghati, founder of the “Reza Visual Academy” association and internationally recognized photographer. The competition is part of the “Children’s Eyes on Earth” international photography project and is dedicated to the theme “I Love Nature – Azerbaijan’.

The main goal of the competition is to raise environmental awareness among children and youth, strengthen their interest and love for the nature of our country, and provide an opportunity for them to express their thoughts through photography.

Those wishing to participate in the competition should submit up to 20 photographs they have taken to the website by September 21.

The competition is open to children and adolescents under the age of 18.

A new batch of fuel products is set to be delivered from Azerbaijan to Armenia as part of ongoing supply operations. AzerNEWS reports that 16 railway tank cars loaded with diesel fuel are scheduled to be dispatched today.

The shipment will depart Azerbaijan by rail, continuing a series of recent fuel exports to Armenia. Earlier, on April 14, Azerbaijan sent 22 ons of diesel fuel, while on April 11, another 15 tank cars carrying 887 tons of diesel were delivered.

In total, Azerbaijan has exported 6,312 tons of diesel fuel (including the latest shipment), along with 979 tons of AI-92 gasoline and 2,955 tons of AI-95 gasoline to Armenia.

It is worth recalling that on October 21, 2025, President Ilham Aliyev announced the removal of all restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia that had been in place since the period of occupation. Speaking alongside Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Aliyev noted that the first such transit involved the delivery of Kazakh grain to Armenia.

Subsequent shipments have included fuel, grain, and fertilizers. On December 18, SOCAR delivered 1,220 tons of AI-95 gasoline to Armenia. On January 9, 2026, a total of 2,698 tons of cargo (48 wagons), including 1,742 tons of AI-95 gasoline and 956 tons of diesel, were sent.

Further deliveries followed, including 979 tons of AI-92 gasoline on January 11, 4,500 tons of diesel on February 25, and multiple shipments of diesel, fertilizers, and grain throughout March. These included 1,984 tons of diesel on March 5, Russian fertilizers and grain shipments on March 9 and 11, as well as wheat, buckwheat, and fertilizer deliveries between March 24 and 25.

The ongoing shipments reflect a broader shift in regional logistics and economic cooperation, with Azerbaijan playing a growing role as a transit and supply hub in the South Caucasus.

A more fragile global backdrop is beginning to weigh on growth prospects, as highlighted by the International Monetary Fund in its April 2026 World Economic Outlook. The Fund trimmed its global growth forecast by 0.3 percentage points, while sharply lowering projections for oil-exporting economies by 2.6 percentage points. The revisions underscore rising uncertainty driven by persistent energy price volatility and intensifying geoeconomic tensions.

Against this backdrop, Azerbaijan’s economy showed mixed signals in the first quarter of 2026. Headline GDP contracted modestly by 0.3 per cent, largely reflecting external pressures in energy markets and a 3.4 per cent decline in oil production. Yet beneath the surface, the picture appears more resilient. Growth in the non-oil and gas sector continued to anchor economic activity, supported by robust domestic demand, steady investment flows and expansion across services and industry.

Industrial output in the non-oil sector rose by 7.0 per cent, while the information and communications sector expanded by 9.2 per cent and trade by 3.7 per cent. Per capita income increased by 6.6 per cent over the same period. Consumer market activity also strengthened, with the total value of goods sold and services provided rising by 4.6 per cent. Retail trade turnover grew by 3.7 per cent, public catering by 5.2 per cent and paid services by 8.8 per cent, indicating sustained consumption momentum despite external headwinds.

A notable drag came from the construction sector, where value added fell by 19.8 per cent. This decline reflects the phased execution of public investment programmes, seasonal factors affecting construction activity and the timing of large infrastructure projects. Authorities expect a rebound in the coming quarters as spending accelerates under the State Investment Programme, particularly in reconstruction efforts in the liberated territories and within the framework of the ‘Great Return’ programme.

Temporary weakness was also observed in transport and tourism, sectors sensitive to geopolitical shifts and disruptions in international logistics. However, officials anticipate that renewed infrastructure activity and increased state investment will help restore growth momentum in these areas over the course of the year.

Investment trends point to continued confidence in the medium-term outlook. Total investment in fixed assets rose by 14.9 per cent in the first quarter, with a striking 44.6 per cent increase in the oil and gas sector. Meanwhile, investment in the non-state segment of the non-oil economy grew by 17.3 per cent, signalling expanding private sector participation.

External trade dynamics further reinforce the diversification narrative. Non-oil and gas exports increased by 11.7 per cent, outpacing import growth of 1.2 per cent by a wide margin, excluding gold imports by the State Oil Fund. Food exports rose by 25.1 per cent to $281mn, driven by sharp increases in key categories: sugar exports surged 4.5-fold, cotton yarn doubled, while vegetable and animal oils rose by 68.4 per cent and cotton fibre by 43.5 per cent. Exports of fruits and vegetables climbed by 22.1 per cent, aluminium products by 20.4 per cent, tea by 15.1 per cent and beverages by 4.3 per cent.

Agricultural exports increased by 26.6 per cent to $215.6mn, while agro-industrial exports grew by 27.4 per cent to $88mn. Combined, these segments expanded by 26.8 per cent to $303.7mn, highlighting the growing contribution of value-added production chains beyond hydrocarbons.

These trends suggest that Azerbaijan’s long-standing push to diversify its economic base is beginning to yield measurable results. The strengthening of non-oil sectors has enhanced the economy’s resilience to external shocks while creating a broader platform for sustainable growth.

Policy efforts continue to focus on improving the business climate and stimulating private sector development. At a meeting of the Economic Council on April 10, discussions centred on removing bottlenecks in infrastructure connectivity and industrial development. Complementing this, the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings has expanded surveys among entrepreneurs covering areas such as trade operations, taxation, financial services and tourism, an approach aimed at aligning reforms with business needs.

International institutions have taken note. The World Bank, through its Business Ready 2025 (B-Ready) report, has for the first time assessed Azerbaijan across regulatory frameworks, public services, and operational efficiency. Both the World Bank and the IMF have revised their 2026 growth forecasts for the country upward to 2.0 per cent and 2.2 per cent, respectively, reflecting confidence in the government’s macroeconomic management and structural reform agenda.

Looking ahead, authorities are preparing the ‘Socio-economic Development Strategy for 2027-2030’, which is expected to define a new phase of growth centred on higher productivity, diversification, and stronger public-private partnerships. In an increasingly uncertain global environment, Azerbaijan’s challenge will be to sustain this transition while navigating continued volatility in its traditional energy base.

The Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, in collaboration with the House of Literature, has announced a national comics competition for young people aged 14 to 17, AzerNEWS reports.

The contest titled “My Hero” invites participants to submit original graphic stories in the Azerbaijani language. Entries must be emotionally engaging, demonstrate potential for animation, and span between 8 and 20 pages. Each submission should present a fresh, creative interpretation of a hero.

Students may participate individually or in teams of two, consisting of a scriptwriter and an illustrator.

The submission period will run from May 1 to September 1, 2026. Participants are required to send their work in PDF format, along with their full name and contact details, to the following e-mail: edibinevi@gmail.com.

A panel of experts from the Culture Ministry and the House of Literature will evaluate the entries. Winners will receive prizes, and one selected work will be adapted into a short animated film.

This initiative is part of broader efforts to implement the Azerbaijan Cultural Concept-2040, encouraging young people to create cultural content in the format of comics or graphic novels.

By combining text and imagery, the competition aims to foster artistic thinking and visual literacy. The heroes envisioned through this modern medium are expected to strengthen the national spirit while conveying a dynamic and creative Azerbaijani identity to future generations.

The “My Hero” national comics competition offers participants a unique opportunity to creatively interpret the concept of a hero as they see it-in their lives, history, families, or imagination.

Submissions may depict historical figures, national icons, professionals such as teachers, doctors, parents, or volunteers, as well as fictional or fantastical characters embodying meaningful values. Above all, each story should reflect the author’s personal perspective and creativity.

Azerbaijan has expanded the list of individuals eligible to benefit from preferential mortgage loans, AzerNEWS reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed the relevant decree in this regard.

The changes are reflected in amendments to the rules governing the issuance of mortgage loans, including preferential mortgages, financed by the Azerbaijan Mortgage and Credit Guarantee Fund (MCGF).

Under the decree, judges of the courts of the Republic of Azerbaijan with at least 3 years of judicial experience have been added to the list of those entitled to access preferential mortgage loans.

Reconstruction and rehabilitation work in Karabakh is continuing at full speed, with the final year of the State Program for the liberated territories now underway, AzerNEWS reports.

This was stated by Emin Huseynov, the Presidential Special Representative for the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend districts, in comments to journalists.

Huseynov said that over the past period, more than 30,000 internally displaced persons have been resettled in the liberated areas. In total, more than 70,000 people are now living, working, and studying in these territories.

‘Today, 92 families have been relocated to the city of Aghdam, and the process is continuing with increasing momentum every day. This year, the resettlement process to the liberated territories will reach its peak. It is projected that up to 20,000 people will be relocated to Aghdam alone. Around 15,000 people are expected to be resettled in the Fuzuli and Khojavend districts. Reconstruction and rehabilitation work is also ongoing across 25 settlements in Khojavend,’ he added.

Background

On September 27, 2020, long-standing tensions escalated into full-scale military operations. Azerbaijan launched a counter-offensive, utilizing modern warfare tactics-most notably the extensive use of precision drones and advanced satellite intelligence.

The turning point occurred on November 8, 2020, when Azerbaijani forces liberated the fortress city of Shusha, strategically positioned above the regional capital.

The Ceasefire: On November 10, a trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia ended the hostilities. Under the agreement, Armenia returned the occupied districts of Agdam, Kalbajar, and Lachin to Azerbaijan.

Final restoration of sovereignty

While the 2020 war liberated the surrounding districts, parts of the region remained under the control of a separatist administration. On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched localized “anti-terror measures” lasting less than 24 hours. This led to the total dissolution of the separatist regime and the full restoration of Azerbaijan’s constitutional order across its entire internationally recognized territory.

Today, the region is undergoing massive reconstruction and demining efforts through the “Great Return” program, aimed at resettling displaced populations into newly built “smart villages” and cities.