Category: Azer News

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel, Azernews reports.

“Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I sincerely congratulate you and all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Czech Republic.

I am confident that we will continue our joint efforts to strengthen interstate relations between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic and to expand our cooperation in areas of mutual interest for the well-being of our peoples.

I convey my best regards to you and wish your people lasting peace and prosperity,” the letter reads.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev shared a post on his social media pages on the occasion of Trkiye’s Republic Day, Azernews reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of the barley malt processing facility of “Promalt” Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Imishli on October 28, Azernews reports.

The facility will produce malt – a product obtained by processing barley, the main raw material for beer production, through specialized processes to prepare it for fermentation. Equipped with modern machinery from the Swiss company Bhler GmbH and a fully automated processing system, the facility has an annual production capacity of 11,000 tons of barley malt.

The total investment in the project amounts to 33.2 million manats.

Implemented through a partnership between the Azerbaijan Business Development Fund under the Ministry of Economy, “Azersheker” LLC, and “Azersun Holding” LLC, the facility has benefited from tax and customs exemptions under the state’s investment incentive program. The barley malt produced at the facility will also supply raw materials to the “Carlsberg Azerbaijan” beer plant. As the first modern production facility in the South Caucasus specializing in brewing barley processing, the project is significant for advancing agro-industrial integration, technological modernization, sustainable raw material supply, and localization of production in the region. The facility will create 47 jobs.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation stone for the Jabrayil City Mosque on October 28, Azernews reports.

Nariman Topchibashev, Director of ‘PMD Projects,’ briefed the President on the project.

The mosque will cover over 1,530 square meters and accommodate 615 worshippers simultaneously. The two-story building will provide separate spaces for men and women to perform prayers. In addition, the mosque will feature a community hall, parking lot, and gazebos. The height of the minarets will be 34.2 meters, while the dome will reach 22.6 meters.

Before the occupation, Jabrayil district had five mosques, more than 40 pilgrimage sites, and over 20 historical and architectural monuments. During the occupation, Armenian forces destroyed many of these historical and religious sites. Since the liberation of Azerbaijani territories, the state has undertaken extensive restoration and reconstruction work in Karabakh and East Zangezur, including the construction of new religious and cultural monuments. An example is the mosque built in 2017 in Jojug Marjanli village, modeled after the Shusha mosque.

‘Today’s reality, this day, is a celebration of justice,’ said President Ilham Aliyev during his meeting with residents of Horovlu village in Jabrayil district.

Stressing the importance of believing in justice and ensuring it, the head of state added: ‘Our people both believed in justice and fought for it. We are the owners of these lands. We have expelled the enemy from our lands and are building a wonderful life here today.’

On October 28, President Ilham Aliyev inspected the newly built 104-apartment residential complex in the city of Zangilan, Azernews reports.

The head of state was briefed on the project.

The nearly 2-hectare complex comprises 12 buildings – eight two-story and four three-story – with 104 apartments. Interior finishing is complete, guided by modern architectural standards.

Amenities include children’s playgrounds, sports grounds, six above- and underground parking areas, electric vehicle charging stations, underground water reservoirs, and a transformer substation.

The Baku Grave Crimes Court has continued hearings in the espionage case against French citizen Martin Ryan and Azerbaijani citizen Azad Mammadli, accused of spying for France and committing treason, respectively.

The trial, presided over by Judge Elmin Rustamov, featured the testimonies of several witnesses who provided detailed accounts of their encounters with the accused and the alleged network of foreign intelligence operations in Azerbaijan.

According to Azernews, witness K.Y., a former colonel of the State Border Service, testified that he met Martin Ryan in 2019 while attending French language classes at the World Business Centre in Baku. Ryan, who taught French there, allegedly expressed an unusual interest in K.Y.’s military background and personal details, including his residence and workplace.

Another witness, N.M., head of ‘Linguist’ LLC, confirmed that Ryan conducted language courses for several individuals, including employees of the State Security Service (STS) and the Russian Embassy in Baku.

Witness Z.M., who first met Ryan in 2008 during their university studies in France, said that upon returning to Azerbaijan, he introduced Ryan to Azad Mammadli, one of his students. According to Z.M., Ryan later connected Mammadli with French embassy officials, including Frederic Devos and Laurent Grandard, who allegedly sought to recruit Mammadli for secret cooperation with the French intelligence services. Z.M. testified that Ryan often spoke about his contacts within the French special services and held regular meetings with their agents in Baku.

Another witness, U.A., recounted meeting both accused individuals and confirmed that Ryan frequently inquired about Azerbaijan’s political landscape and foreign relations. U.A. also stated that he was approached by Laurent Grandard, then the first secretary of the French Embassy, who allegedly attempted to involve him in intelligence cooperation. According to his testimony, Ryan later warned him that Grandard and others at the embassy were engaged in recruiting local agents.

Additional witnesses, including H.A., R.B., and several others, described their interactions with Ryan in various contexts-ranging from professional dealings to casual meetings-highlighting his close connections to diplomatic circles and his cover as a language instructor and businessman.

The indictment presented in court outlines that Martin Ryan, allegedly acting under the direction of the French General Directorate for External Security (DGSE), sought information on Azerbaijan’s military capabilities, weapons production, foreign relations, and potential secret financial operations. His Azerbaijani associate, Azad Mammadli, is accused of providing assistance in these intelligence-gathering efforts.

Both Ryan and Mammadli were arrested by the State Security Service on December 4, 2023. Ryan, who served as the general director of ‘Merkorama’ LLC, faces charges under Article 276 (espionage) of the Criminal Code, while Mammadli is charged under Article 274 (treason).

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for November 24, when additional witnesses are expected to testify.

In line with President Ilham Aliyev’s instructions, the Great Return to the liberated territories continues, marking another significant step in the restoration of life across Garabagh, Azernews reports.

Families who had long lived in temporary accommodations-such as dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings-are now returning to their native lands in the Khojaly district.

13 families comprising 51 people have been relocated to Ballija village, 17 families (72 people) to Tezabina, and another 17 families (62 people) to Badara village.

The returnees expressed deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive care and attention shown to them. They also conveyed heartfelt appreciation to the valiant Azerbaijani Army and the country’s heroic soldiers and officers who liberated their homeland from occupation.

Residents prayed for the souls of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, vowing to contribute to the rebuilding and flourishing of their ancestral lands.

This new phase of resettlement highlights the state’s unwavering commitment to revitalizing the liberated regions and ensuring dignified living conditions for returning citizens.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation stone for the second and third residential complexes in Jabrayil city on October 28, Azernews reports.

The second residential complex will be constructed on 5.28 hectares. It will consist of 23 buildings with five and six floors, containing a total of 615 apartments with one to five rooms. The complex will be equipped with all necessary amenities to ensure comfortable living for residents.

Following this, the President laid the foundation stone for the third residential complex, which will cover more than five hectares. The complex will feature 25 buildings with five, six, and seven floors, comprising 746 apartments with one to five rooms.

Both complexes will be built according to modern standards and will include the required social infrastructure, representing a significant step in the restoration of Jabrayil city.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $700,000 in technical assistance to enhance energy efficiency and implement clean technologies in the Baku Metro system, Azernews reports, citing the ADB.

The initiative, titled ‘Decarbonizing Baku Metro for a Smart and Sustainable Urban Transit Future,’ aims to reduce the metro’s carbon footprint, optimize energy use, and lower operating costs.

Under the technical assistance program, experts will assess opportunities for infrastructure modernization, including the integration of renewable energy sources such as solar panels and battery energy storage systems (BESS). The project will also explore the introduction of smart energy management systems, predictive maintenance, and big data-driven solutions to improve efficiency and reliability.

As the backbone of Baku’s public transportation network, the metro currently carries around 630,000 passengers daily. With government plans to expand the network to five lines spanning 120 kilometers by 2035, the need for sustainable and energy-efficient solutions is becoming increasingly urgent.

The decarbonization of the metro will not only reduce emissions and support Azerbaijan’s national commitments to curb greenhouse gases but also improve operational performance and decrease maintenance expenses.

According to the ADB, this project represents a key element of its broader partnership with Baku Metro, contributing to the alignment of the city’s transport infrastructure with international standards for environmental sustainability.