Category: Azer News

The Azerbaijan Cultural House in Prague has hosted the presentation of the newly translated book “Classic Czech Short Stories” in Azerbaijani, Azernews reports.

The initiators of the project are the book’s editors: Associate Professor of the Faculty of Philosophy at Charles University, Ivana Bozdechová, and diplomat, writer Jaroslav Olša Jr.

The book was published with the support of the Czech Ministry of Culture and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Azerbaijan. The translator, Shabnam Asadova, teaches Azerbaijani at the Sunday school of the Azerbaijan Cultural House in Prague.

The Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the Czech Republic, Yashar Aliyev, congratulated all participants of the project on the publication of the new book, emphasizing its importance in cultural diplomacy.

“It was a great honor for us to organize this presentation within the walls of our Azerbaijan Cultural House and to become acquainted with modern classics, including the legendary Martin Vopenka,” stressed the director of the Azerbaijan Cultural House, Leyla Begim.

The evening was hosted by Ivana Bozdechová. She quoted from the classics, recited poetry, and conducted short interviews with Martin Vopenka and Julie Nováková.

In his speech, Jaroslav Olša Jr. said: “While working as an ambassador in many countries, I realized that during a mere four-year stay, the most significant step one can take in culture is to publish a book. A published book lives beyond time.”

Ivana Bozdechová emphasized the historical importance of the anthology: “This is the first direct translation from Czech into Azerbaijani. Until now, Azerbaijani readers were mostly acquainted with Czech literature through translations from Russian. The editors’ goal was to select exemplary works that reflect the artistic diversity and originality of Czech literature.”

The anthology includes works by prominent and internationally renowned writers such as Jaroslav Hašek (1883-1923), Franz Kafka (1883-1924), and Karel Capek (1890-1938).

Recall that the first presentation of the book took place in Baku. The presentation was attended by diplomats, public figures, members of the Azerbaijani intellectual community, scholars, journalists, and literature lovers.

A gala evening dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the birth of the world-renowned artist and People’s Artist Rashid Behbudov was held at the Azerbaijan State Song Theatre, Azernews reports. The event was organised by the State Song Theatre, which bears the artist’s name.

It was reported that on his birthday, the gala brought together officials, intellectuals, and representatives of the arts.

During the official part of the concert, speeches were delivered by Deputy Culture Minister Murad Huseynov, Director of the State Song Theatre Ulviyya Babirova, and Director of the Rashid Behbudov Foundation Kamil Shahverdiyev, who spoke about the richness of Rashid Behbudov’s legacy.

They noted that Rashid Behbudov, who lived a life as a true singer and artist, has forever inscribed his name in the history of Azerbaijani musical culture through his life and work.

In the artistic part of the evening, performances were given by People’s Artists Gulyaz and Gulyanaq Mammadova, Salman Gambarov, Honoured Artists Ramil Gasimov, Farid Aliyev, Nurlan Novrasli, as well as popular performers Ilhame Gasimova, Ayshen Mehdiyeva, Rovshan Gahramanov, Taleh Yahyayev, Fakhri Kazim-Nijat, Arestun Guliyev, Urfan Jafarov, and Nicat Aslanov, accompanied by the State Song Theatre’s pop-symphonic orchestra under the direction of conductor Ellada Mammadova.

Archival footage reflecting Rashid Behbudov’s rich creative legacy was also presented to the guests during the event.

Rashid Behbudov (14 December 1915 – 9 June 1989) was a renowned Azerbaijani pop and opera singer (lyric tenor) and actor.

His musical repertoire was exceptionally diverse, featuring works by Azerbaijani composers, folk songs of Azerbaijan, and songs from various other nations.

He toured extensively across the USSR and internationally, performing in countries including Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, India, China, Syria, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Finland, Poland, and throughout Latin America. Remarkably, he incorporated songs in the languages of the countries he visited, earning him widespread admiration. Behbudov played a pivotal role in the development of national opera and musical comedy in Azerbaijan.

Known for his charm, striking stage presence, and expressive talent, Behbudov also appeared in several films, including iconic works such as “Arshin Mal Alan” (The Cloth Peddler), “Lyubimaya Pesnya” (also known as Bakhtiyar), and “The Thousand-First Tour”.

His charisma, artistic versatility, and ability to master any musical tradition contributed to his lasting success and popularity.

Rashid Behbudov’s legacy is firmly embedded in Baku. One of the city’s main streets bears his name, along with Music School No. 2 and the State Song Theatre, which also carries his name. In June 2016, a monument dedicated to Behbudov, created by People’s Artist of Azerbaijan Fuad Salaev, was unveiled in front of the State Song Theatre.

Rashid Behbudov passed away on 9 June 1989 in Moscow.

He was laid to rest at the Alley of Honour in Baku, leaving behind a rich cultural legacy that continues to inspire generations of musicians and performers.

The Baku Initiative Group has continued its investigations into crimes committed by colonial powers in occupied territories, releasing new findings that highlight what it describes as some of the most brutal and inhuman atrocities carried out under Belgian colonial rule, Azernews reports.

According to information disseminated by the Group, Belgian colonialism stands out in European history as a unique and particularly dark model, having functioned as the personal monarchical possession of King Leopold II. Unlike other colonial systems, it was marked by extreme systematic brutality, racial humiliation, and practices openly repeated in the heart of Europe. One of the most shameful manifestations of this policy was the creation of so-called ‘human zoos.’

In 1897, on the direct order of Leopold II, 267 Congolese people were forcibly brought from the Congo and exhibited as ‘living displays’ at the World Exhibition in the Tervuren area of Brussels. Kept half-naked behind wooden fences and exposed to harsh European weather conditions, they were treated as objects rather than human beings. As a result of this barbaric exhibition, at least seven Congolese individuals, including children, died from pneumonia, influenza, and other illnesses, after which their bodies were secretly buried. The display, presented under the guise of a ‘civilizing mission,’ became a symbol of open racial humiliation and genocide in Europe.

The site later became a permanent museum, first known as the Congo Museum and later as the Royal Museum for Central Africa, which functioned for decades as a propaganda center for colonial ideology. Similar practices were repeated during the 1958 Expo in Brussels, where 598 Congolese people-183 families comprising men, women, and children-were once again exhibited to the public as ‘living displays.’ These events demonstrated that the 1897 exhibition was not an isolated episode, but part of a systematic and institutionalized colonial policy rooted in racial hierarchy and the ideology of a so-called civilizing mission that persisted into the mid-20th century.

The Group also highlighted documented cases from 1959-1962 in Burundi, Congo, and Rwanda, then under Belgian rule, where approximately 20,000 children born to white fathers and Black mothers were forcibly separated from their families and transferred to Belgium for adoption without parental consent. These actions resulted in severe violations of family unity, personal identity, and cultural belonging.

According to the Baku Initiative Group, these facts collectively demonstrate that Belgium’s colonial policy was based on systematic racism, widespread human rights abuses, and grave violations of human dignity. The findings are consistent with conclusions outlined in the 2019 report of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have officially approved a strategic partnership agreement in the energy sector, Azernews reports.

This follows a decree signed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, approving the ‘Agreement on Strategic Partnership in the Energy Sector between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.’

The agreement, signed in Astana on October 21, 2025, will take effect upon the completion of the necessary domestic procedures. Following its enactment, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy will ensure the implementation of the agreement’s provisions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has been tasked with notifying the Government of Kazakhstan that all required domestic steps for the agreement to take effect have been completed.

An exhibition celebrating the 900th anniversary of architect Ajami Nakhchivani, part of UNESCO’s anniversaries program, has opened at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, Azernews reports.

The exhibition was organized with the support of the Azerbaijan National Commission for UNESCO, jointly by Azerbaijan’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, the Azerbaijan Union of Architects, and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, in partnership with UNESCO.

The 900th anniversary of Ajami Nakhchivani’s birth, included in UNESCO’s list of anniversaries for 2024-2025 by the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference, was marked with a ceremony attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, the Permanent Secretariat of the Azerbaijan National Commission for UNESCO, UNESCO Secretariat staff, as well as representatives of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and the Azerbaijan Union of Architects.

Speaking at the openning ceremony, Azerbaijan’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO Elman Abdullayev emphasized Ajami Nakhchivani’s exceptional place in world architectural heritage. He noted that the Nakhchivan school of architecture founded by Ajami had a significant impact on the development of Near and Middle Eastern architecture. The Ambassador highlighted that Ajami’s works, including the Momine Khatun Mausoleum and the Yusif ibn Kuseyir Mausoleum, are rare gems of 12th-century architecture, distinguished by their precision of craftsmanship, perfect symmetry, and ornamental richness, and remain a valuable source of inspiration for architects, scholars, and researchers today.

During his speech, the Ambassador recalled the carpet dedicated to Ajami Nakhchivani by the prominent carpet artist Latif Karimov, which was gifted to UNESCO in 1983 by the National Leader of the Azerbaijani People Heydar Aliyev. He stressed that this was a vivid example of preserving and perpetuating cultural heritage through art. He also underlined that UNESCO’s recognition of Ajami Nakhchivani’s contributions to universal culture is another important manifestation of the Azerbaijan-UNESCO partnership.

The Permanent Delegate noted that Ajami Nakhchivani’s human-centered and harmonious spatial philosophy remains relevant today, and emphasized that the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), to be held in Baku on May 17-22, 2026, will serve as an important platform for international discussion of these values. Abdullayev expressed gratitude to the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO and the Azerbaijan Union of Architects for their support in organizing the event and exhibition.

Following the opening remarks, Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, stated that Ajami Nakhchivani’s creativity turned Nakhchivan into a major cultural center of the region. He emphasized that Ajami’s architectural heritage preserved local traditions while embodying universal values that transcend time and borders. Ottone also highly valued Azerbaijan’s ongoing cooperation with UNESCO in the field of cultural heritage preservation and promotion.

Next, Aktoty Raimkulova, President of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, noted that Ajami Nakhchivani’s architectural style, rooted in the rich traditions of the Turkic world, stands out for its profound meaning and originality, clearly reflected in monuments such as the Momine Khatun and Yusif ibn Kuseyir mausoleums.

Nigar Rahimli, representative of the Azerbaijan National Commission for UNESCO, emphasized the importance of including Ajami Nakhchivani’s 900th anniversary in UNESCO’s 2024-2025 anniversaries program. She noted that his creativity significantly influenced not only Azerbaijani but also Near Eastern architecture. She stressed that the exhibition at UNESCO Headquarters highlights the importance of presenting the great architect’s legacy to a wider audience and underlines the necessity of its preservation.

Later, Rasim Babakishiyev, Honored Architect of Azerbaijan and Secretary of the Azerbaijan Union of Architects, underlined that architectural monuments are among the most convincing proofs of the history of nations and states. He expressed pride in Azerbaijan’s rich architectural heritage and highlighted the special attention paid by President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva to the preservation and restoration of architectural monuments both domestically and internationally. Babakishiyev emphasized that Ajami Nakhchivani’s works, such as the Momine Khatun and Yusif ibn Kuseyir mausoleums, are distinguished by high professionalism and engineering precision, and their survival to this day is due to this mastery.

The event continued with the presentation of a book published with the support of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and the Azerbaijan Union of Architects, dedicated to the 900th anniversary of Ajami Nakhchivani’s birth. At the end, guests were offered dishes of Azerbaijani national cuisine.

The exhibition at UNESCO Headquarters will remain open until December 19, 2025.

A spectacular concert titled “Winter Tango” has taken place at the State Academic Philharmonic Hall, Azernews reports.

The evening opened with pianist Samira Dbila-Budagova, who warmly introduced the audience to the program and its musical concept.

The concert featured a selection of Astor Piazzolla’s most renowned works, including “The Seasons,” “Ave Maria”, performed in Azerbaijan for the first time, “Vuelvo al Sur,” “Rio Sena,” “Chau Paris,” “Café 1930,” “Oblivion,” “Adios Nonino,” and the iconic “Libertango.” The concert program also included an expressive free improvisation by pianist Ruslan Aghababayev, adding a unique touch to the evening.

A lineup of talented soloists captivated the audience with their performances: Ulviya Dadashova (piano), Aleksey Miltikh (cello), Jeyla Seyidova (violin), Nargiz Karimova (soprano), Samira Ashumova (piano), Arslan Novresli (tar), Raul Huseynov (bass guitar), Ayyub Aliyev (cello), Khayal Aliyev (accordion), and Elvin Bashirov (percussion).

The event’s special guests, Vajiha Safaraliyeva and Kamran Babayev, soloists of the Baku Tango Embrace dance group, added a captivating visual dimension to the musical program and were greeted with great enthusiasm by the audience.

The Philharmonic Hall is a unique centre of classical music that perfectly unites seven performing groups, including the State Symphony Orchestra, the State Choir Capella, the State Chamber Orchestra, the State Piano Trio, the State String Quartet, the State Folk Song and Dance Ensemble, as well as the State Orchestra of Folk Instruments.

Numerous international projects, music festivals, and concerts by local and foreign musicians are regularly organised here.

In 2020, Russia’s TurStat listed the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society among the best philharmonic halls in the CIS countries.

The rating was based on the popularity of philharmonic societies and offers of online concerts.

The list also included the Moscow State Academic Philharmonic Hall, the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonic Society, the Belarusian State Philharmonic, the Kazakh State Philharmonic, the State Philharmonic of Uzbekistan, and the Kyrgyz National Philharmonic.

Import and export, transit, transport, and logistics activities in Azerbaijan are set to be digitized, Azernews reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has signed the relevant decree.

Under the decree, a Single Window information system will be established to improve state governance mechanisms in the regulation of foreign trade, ensure effective coordination among state bodies, and create a fully digital environment based on unified access for import and export, transit, transport, and logistics operations, as well as to introduce a “smart” cargo flow management system.

Through the system, the following will be ensured for the implementation of foreign trade activities:

– submission of required documents, including commercial and transport documents;

– electronic preparation of documents and information required for vehicles and transported goods;

– provision of information on border-crossing procedures, transportation rules and conditions, as well as acceptance and response to user inquiries;

– electronic conclusion of cargo transportation contracts and submission of concluded contracts;

– tracking of transported cargo along the entire route of movement;

– execution of payments and access to statistical data related to these activities.

The Cabinet of Ministers will act as the owner of the system, while the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport (MDDT) will serve as its operator.

Information exchange between the system and state services in the areas of licensing and permits, customs, taxation, food safety, agriculture, road transport, state registration and accounting of taxpayers, identification of individuals, entry into, registration in and departure from the country, as well as civil aviation, railways and maritime transport, payment service providers, credit institutions and insurance organizations will be carried out via the Electronic Government Information System within the limits established by national legislation.

The Cabinet of Ministers is tasked with preparing and submitting the draft regulation of the system to the head of state within 9 months, developing proposals for improving regulatory legal acts to ensure digitalization in the import and export, transit, transport and logistics sectors based on international experience, and taking necessary measures to ensure the functioning of the system in coordination with proposals from the MDDT and the State Customs Committee.

The MDDT must take the necessary steps to manage, organize and develop the system, ensure its placement and improvement in the Government Cloud (G-cloud) in line with the relevant presidential decree of June 3, 2019, include it in the Unified Register of State Information Resources, Systems and Electronic Services and the state register of personal data information systems, and submit monthly reports on operations conducted through the system to owners or operators of integrated information systems.

The MDDT, together with the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security, must also ensure the implementation of measures arising from the presidential decree of September 12, 2018, on the formation, maintenance, integration, and archiving of state information resources and systems, as well as measures related to electronic government.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced plans to visit Poland on December 19, Azernews reports.

Zelensky shared the information in a statement to journalists, emphasizing the importance of maintaining close ties between the two countries.

‘I don’t think we will postpone anything. Supporting our relations with Poland is very important for us,’ Zelensky said.

The visit is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation and ongoing coordination between Kyiv and Warsaw amid current regional challenges.

On December 19, a solo exhibition by artist Emil Aziz titled “Pattern and Silhouette” will open at the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, Azernews reports.

The exhibition will feature 50 works by the author, distinguished by their thematic diversity.

The main idea of the exhibition, which presents the rich cultural heritage of Garabagh in a contemporary visual language, is to merge the memory preserved for millennia by carpet ornaments with the aesthetic sensibilities of the 20th-21st centuries.

Garabagh horses depicted in harmony with ancient carpet patterns, as well as portraits of women, hold a special place in the exhibition. The movement, strength, and poetic silhouette of the horse are in harmony with the structured rhythm of the ornaments. In other works, carpet motifs are presented as expressions of a woman’s identity, spirit, connection to the past, and modes of self-expression in the modern world.

Pattern and Silhouette, where tradition meets modernity, is an artistic manifesto that demonstrates how Garabagh’s cultural treasures are both preserved and reinterpreted for the future.

The Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum consistently supports young artists who create new works inspired by our nation’s rich carpet heritage. In this regard, the Pattern and Silhouette project is another noteworthy event in the contemporary presentation of national heritage.

The exhibition will remain open until December 21.

Outdated and unserviceable munitions will be destroyed in the Pir?k?skl settlement and the Agd?r? district, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense.

The Ministry noted that the destruction process will take place between December 15 and 19 in strict compliance with safety regulations. The munitions, whose service life has expired and which are no longer suitable for use, will be disposed of at a training ground near the Pir?k?skl settlement, as well as at a training center located in the Agd?r? district.

The ministry urged local residents not to be alarmed by the sound of explosions, emphasizing that there is no cause for concern and that all necessary safety measures will be observed throughout the process.