Category: Azer News

On October 24, the trial of citizens of the Republic of Armenia continued at the Baku Military Court with the announcement of documents and testimonies, Azernews reports.

Those statements from victims and legal heirs who could not attend the session for valid reasons were read in court.

According to the testimony of Veliyev Fikrat Javad oglu, on February 25, 1992, while Armenian forces were setting fire to houses in Khojaly, he returned to his home but found it abandoned. He, along with his wife Veliyeva Uruze Khanlar, sister Sureyya Veliyeva, nephew Ahmadov Anar Islam oglu, and approximately 300 other residents, fled toward the Ketik forest. Along the way, several residents were killed or injured by gunfire from Armenian soldiers. Many endured a harsh night in the forest, suffering frostbite, and some disappeared under unknown circumstances.

Veliyev recounted that on February 27, due to fog and the absence of guides, the group could not find the road to the Aghdam region. Near the village of Dehraz, 230 residents were shot by Armenian soldiers, including individuals named Bagirova Zahra Sari gizi, Telman, Mehti, among others. Some were taken hostage and confined in a building resembling a cattle shed, where they were tortured, robbed of money and valuables, and deprived of food and water. He described how a child, Anar Ahmadov, was violently thrown against a wall, highlighting the extreme cruelty inflicted on civilians.

Veliyev also testified that Armenian soldiers selected several young men from the hostages-including Usubali Garayev, Zakir, Aliyar, Elshad Usubovs, Rovshan Hasanov, Vugar Huseynov, Ulfat Aliyev, Tofig Zeynalov, Elshad Hasan oglu, Aladdin Pashayev, Siyavush Halay oglu, Rovshan Gachay oglu, and a resident named Shahin-took them outside, after which gunshots and the sound of a vehicle were heard. These individuals remain missing to this day.

The ongoing trial focuses on holding accountable Armenian citizens accused of committing war crimes, crimes against peace and humanity, genocide, violations of the laws of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, forcible seizure of power, forcible retention of power, and other offenses during Armenia’s military aggression. The case highlights the grave human suffering endured by Khojaly residents and seeks justice for the victims and their families.

The trial addresses crimes committed during Armenia’s military aggression, including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, genocide, violations of the laws of war, terrorism, forcible seizure of power, and other offences.

As part of the “Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW” art festival, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in partnership with the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, which aims to unite art, culture, and ecology, more than 10 exhibitions will open in various galleries across the capital from October 31 to November 2, Azernews reports.

These exhibitions will form the core of the festival.

On October 31, the official opening of the joint project by the UN and IDEA will take place, featuring the exhibitions “My Seas, My Oceans” by one of the most renowned masters of the 20th and 21st centuries, Colombian artist and sculptor Fernando Botero. His recognizable style has transformed the perception and vision of the human body. The exhibition, which will be open for art enthusiasts from November 1-2 at the Heydar Aliyev Center, will also include works by leading Azerbaijani artists on the themes of environmental responsibility and sustainable development.

Six other exhibitions will be held in Icherisheher. The exhibition “Flowing Memory” (Axar yaddas), which will take place at the Underground Bath from October 31 to November 2, explores the multilayered semantics of bath culture in Azerbaijan within the context of the concepts of water, memory, and purity. In the works of contemporary artists Sabina Shikhliyskaya, Nargiz Asgarova Ramizgizi, Aliya Bayramova, and Timur Zaripov, the bath is reimagined as a flowing space of memory that connects the past to the present, as a place of collective identity linking generations through experience.

At the exhibition “Dew. A Morning That Never Was” (Seh. Heç vaxt olmayan s?h?r) at the Shirvanshahs’ Palace (October 31 – November 2), artist Vusala Agharaziyeva compares the Shirvanshahs’ Palace to a contemplative space that becomes the delicate, thoughtful moment between night and dawn.

The exhibition “Ancestors” (?cdadlar) brings together leading contemporary Azerbaijani artists Faig Ahmad, Rashad Alakbarov, Orkhan Huseynov, and Farid Rasulov to explore one of humanity’s most profound concepts-the unbreakable connection between us and those who lived before us. This exhibition will take place from October 31 to November 2 at the QGallery Baku in Icherisheher.

“The Pistachio Tree: Roots of Memory” (Fistiq agaci: Yaddasin kökl?ri) is the title of an exhibition that will be held at the Maksud Ibrahimbayov Creativity Center (November 1-2). This multifaceted project combines literature, art, and ecology. Inspired by Maksud Ibrahimbayov’s monodrama “The Pistachio Tree,” the exhibition deeply explores universal themes such as memory, belonging, and continuity through the lens of Azerbaijani storytelling.

As part of the project “Fly to Baku: Fluid State” (Bakiya uçus: Axin hali), a collection of works by eight artists inspired by the fountains in the center of the city will be displayed at the Baku Photography House in Icherisheher (November 2-3). Each piece tells a personal or public story about a specific location. The exhibition focuses on the role of fountains in public spaces in Baku, their influence on the formation of the city’s identity and communities, as well as the potential of these places to shape a new vision, perception, and possible future of Baku.

A new series of works by Ramina Saadatkhan titled “Fire, Water, and Kisses” (Od, su v? öpsl?r) will be presented at the Nine Senses Art Center from October 31 to November 2.

The project “Once Upon the Caspian”, curated by Zahra Mammadova, is both an artistic journey and an invitation to rediscover water and ourselves. The exhibition will take place at the YARAT Contemporary Art Space on November 2-3.

The exhibition “A life left unfinished” (Yarimçiq qalmis bir ömr) will open at the Azerbaijan National Art Museum on October 31, to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of the prominent representative of the Absheron school and one of the most important figures in Azerbaijani realism, artist Tofig Javadov (1925-1963).

Moreover, works by participants of the Baku Steel Art International Metal Symposium will be displayed at the Seaside National Park. Elvin Nabizade’s kinetic installation “The Last Wave” (Sonuncu dalga) will be exhibited for two days at the Stone Chronicle Museum.

Along with the exhibitions, the festival program includes masterclasses, public art projects, and city tours.

On November 1-2, masterclasses by Giuseppe Carta will take place at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts. On these days, the academy will also hold open house days.

The “ABOVE” project, led by Asmar Babayeva, takes visitors beyond the walls of galleries, inviting them into the studios of leading contemporary sculptors and artists in Azerbaijan. This exclusive experience offers a rare opportunity to see the places where ideas are born and transformed into art. Visitors will have the chance to witness the creative process firsthand, interact with the artists, and learn how the combination of tradition and innovation is shaping the country’s evolving art scene.

The Head of the State Agency for the Protection of Strategic Objects of Azerbaijan Sardar Safarov has been awarded the highest military rank of major general, Azernews reports.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree.

Baku is hosting the second meeting of the ministers of industry, science, technology, and innovation of the Turkic States Organization (TSO), Azernews reports.

The event brings together high-level officials, including Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, TSO Secretary-General Kumanichbek Omuraliev, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Economy and Trade Bakyt Sydykov, and Turkiye’s Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir, along with other senior representatives from member states.

Baku hosted the international symposium ‘Modern religious education models: in the context of spiritual values and global challenges,’ bringing together leading religious and academic figures from across the world, Azernews reports.

Within the framework of the event, Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Ramin Mammadov held a series of bilateral meetings with heads of religious and scientific institutions from Trkiye, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, the United States, Russia, and Georgia.

During the meetings, discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in the field of religious education, spiritual development, and intercultural dialogue. Ramin Mammadov underlined that the attention and care given to religion and religious education in Azerbaijan form a vital part of the state’s policy on religion, initiated by National Leader Heydar Aliyev and continued successfully under President Ilham Aliyev.

He emphasized that Azerbaijan’s approach aims to safeguard a healthy religious environment, preserve spiritual stability, and align religious education with modern global standards. Highlighting the country’s unique model of interfaith harmony and multiculturalism, Mammadov noted that relations among various confessions in Azerbaijan are built on mutual respect and cooperation, making the country a global example of peaceful coexistence.

The symposium participants praised Azerbaijan’s efforts to promote dialogue among religions and cultures, recognizing the country as a model for tolerance and coexistence. They expressed interest in continuing such academic and interreligious initiatives, emphasizing the importance of joint projects and knowledge exchange in strengthening international cooperation in religious education.

Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that Russia will assess the latest sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union and will respond accordingly, Azernews reports.

Speaking at a press conference, Peskov noted that Moscow will do “what best serves our interests.”

Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted that his country will not bow down to the pressure others are trying to put on it.

A day after President Trump’s first major punitive action against Russia over its war in Ukraine, President Vladimir V. Putin called new U.S. oil sanctions ‘an unfriendly act’ and warned of an overwhelming response if Kyiv gets the powerful missiles it seeks.

Head of the State Agency for the Protection of Strategic Objects of Azerbaijan, Major General Ilgar Abbasov, has been dismissed from his post, Azernews reports.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree.

The World Coaching Organization (WCO) has been delivering international coaching programs for years, empowering individuals and organizations across various countries, Azernews reports. This year, for the first time, the program will be held in Azerbaijan.

On December 12, 13, and 14, the World Coaching Organization (WCO) will present the International Coaching Certification (ICC) training program in Baku.

The event is being implemented as a result of a collaboration memorandum signed between Soulmind and the World Coaching Organization (WCO) in Finland, marking a new stage in the development of the coaching field in Azerbaijan.

Led by social psychologist and executive coach Pauliina Hallama (Finland) and WCO Director of Development John Swallow (Finland), participants will engage in an experience of mutual learning, deep understanding, and professional growth.

Training Packages

DISCOVER Package – (Basic Package)

30 hours of live training

Invitation to join the World Coaches Community

Participant Certificate upon completion

DEVELOP Package – (Most Popular and Optimal Package)

60-hour comprehensive program:

30 hours of live training

30 hours of practical coaching and supervision

? The ideal choice for gaining practical knowledge, deep experience, and real-world coaching skills.

EXCEL Package – (Premium Package)

Includes all the content of the Develop package, plus:

1-year paid membership in the World Coaches Community

A 60-minute 1:1 personal coaching or mentoring session with a Master Coach

? Designed for those who aim to stand out in the professional coaching field and grow on an international level.

Participants who successfully complete the training hours will receive an International Coaching Certification (ICC).

Registration seats are limited.

Azerbaijan should align its artificial intelligence (AI) practices with international standards to ensure effective governance and economic growth, Azernews reports.

According to information, Salar Imamaliyev, Director General for Commercial Affairs of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, made the remarks at the international conference ‘SOCGOV 2025: Artificial Intelligence – for People and Transformation’ in Baku.

Imamaliyev stressed the importance of harmonising institutional and technological standards in Azerbaijan with global practices:

‘Four international standards have already been adopted and made available to the public. However, the formation of a new regulatory framework in the field of artificial intelligence and the continuation of the process of applying standards remain one of the main challenges.’

He added that adopting such standards is crucial for improving the quality of life of citizens, both in governance and in driving economic growth.

On October 24, 2025, at around 10:50 a.m., a deadly explosion occurred at the Ovruch railway station in the city of Ovruch, Zhytomyr Oblast, Azernews reports via Ukrainian media.

According to preliminary reports, a man detonated a grenade, causing multiple casualties.

Initial information confirmed four fatalities, including a border guard and two civilian women, as verified by Ukraine’s State Border Service. Additionally, twelve individuals, among them two soldiers, sustained injuries of varying severity.

Law enforcement authorities stated that the explosion took place during a document inspection of passengers on a diesel train stationed at the platform. During the inspection, a 23-year-old resident of Kharkiv pulled out an explosive device and detonated it, killing himself instantly.

It was later revealed that the suspect had previously been detained for attempting to illegally cross the state border, raising questions about his motives and background.

Investigators are currently working at the scene to establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident, while security measures have been tightened in the area to prevent further threats.