Category: Azer News

At least 15 million tons of cargo are expected to be transported annually via railway through the territory of Azerbaijan in the coming years.

Azernews reports that this was stated by Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev during a trilateral meeting with representatives from the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mustafayev recalled that in May 2023, an agreement was signed between the governments of Iran and Russia for the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway segment on Iranian territory.

Additionally, in December 2024, the governments of Azerbaijan and Russia signed a cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing transit cargo transportation along the North-South International Transport Corridor.

“According to the agreement, following the modernization of the relevant railway infrastructure, the guaranteed annual volume of cargo transported through Azerbaijan will reach at least 5 million tons starting from January 1, 2028. This volume is expected to increase to at least 15 million tons, subject to a joint decision by the participating parties,” Mustafayev noted.

“Cybercell” emerged as the as the vice-champion among 25 teams

The ‘CIDC 2025 – Critical Infrastructure Defence Challenge’, jointly organized by the State Service of Special Communication and Information Security and the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has successfully concluded in Baku.

In the ‘Cyberwarfare in Smart Cities’ competition held within the framework of the event, Azercell Telecom’s cybersecurity team – Cybercell earned the coveted title of Vice-Champion. Over the two-day contest, specialists from the company’s Security Department demonstrated outstanding performance, successfully completing a series of complex tasks based on realistic cyber threat scenarios.

This year’s challenge brought together 20 local and, for the first time, 5 international teams from the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The competition aimed to strengthen participants’ knowledge and practical skills in cyber-defence, as well as their ability to effectively manage information systems during crisis situations. Competitors represented key sectors such as government institutions, critical infrastructure facilities, banking and telecommunications.

As part of CIDC 2025, a cybersecurity exhibition showcased solutions from 41 local and international companies presenting cutting-edge innovations in information security, risk management, and network protection. Azercell’s own innovative solutions attracted strong interest and positive feedback from participants and visitors.

In addition to providing reliable cybersecurity solutions for its business clients, Azercell Telecom places strong emphasis on developing professional expertise in this field. The company remains committed to supporting the strengthening of the national cybersecurity ecosystem and fostering the development of skilled professionals.

For the first time in the country’s history, the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater is launching a large-scale cultural project titled “Ballet Days,” Azernews reports.

The symbolic motto of this artistic forum, “A History Written in Movement,” encapsulates the essence of the initiative, the reflection of destiny, emotions, and beauty through the language of dance.

This new project aims to reveal the diverse world of the academic stage, unite art enthusiasts, and give them the chance to once again experience the magic of ballet.

The grand opening of “Ballet Days” will take place on October 15 at the Heydar Aliyev Palace with a performance of the legendary ballet “One Thousand and One Nights” by Fikrat Amirov.

From October 15 to November 11, the festival will include performances of outstanding works of national ballet art, master classes featuring renowned ballet artists, a scientific conference, and public discussions.

The “Ballet Days” project combines the rich heritage of classical art with modern artistic trends, opening a new chapter in the history of national culture.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az.

On October 13, the Baku Military Court continued the trial of citizens of the Republic of Armenia accused of committing war crimes and crimes against peace and humanity, Azernews reports.

During the court session, a series of secret documents belonging to the Armenian armed forces were disclosed. Photographs of the documents were displayed in the courtroom, providing evidence that various combat tasks were assigned by Armenia’s military leadership to its armed formations, including the so-called ‘army,’ for operations on Azerbaijani territories previously under occupation.

One of the key pieces of evidence presented was a classified order, No. 0119, dated May 4, 2016, signed by the then Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Colonel General Yuri Khachaturov. The order instructed the commander of the so-called ‘army’ to fortify anti-tank ditches and trench systems in the ‘6th Defense District,’ integrate the defensive lines of the ‘9th Defense District,’ and conceal military vehicles within battle formations.

Another document made public was the joint secret order No. 016, dated December 24, 2016, prepared in Yerevan by Lieutenant General Movses Hakobyan, then Chief of the General Staff, and Colonel V. Sargsyan, Chief of the Intelligence Department. The document outlined a plan for the 24th Special Purpose Separate Radio Technical Regiment to conduct an inspection trip from Yerevan to Khankendi, Aghdara, and Sugovushan between January 10-14, 2017. The purpose of the mission was to identify suitable positions for radio-electronic reconnaissance (REK) units, with oversight assigned to Armenia’s military intelligence chief.

The trial continues against Armenian citizens accused of a range of serious crimes, including war crimes, genocide, terrorism, and violations of international humanitarian law, committed during Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan.

Turkmenistan Culture Days will be held in Baku and Ganja from October 13 to 15, Azernews reports.

A large delegation of cultural figures and artists from Turkmenistan will visit Azerbaijan for this special event, organized by Azerbaijan Culture Ministry.

Throughout the Culture Days, Turkmenistan’s rich heritage will be showcased, including music, decorative and applied arts, museum exhibits and culinary traditions.

The event will offer a comprehensive presentation of Turkmen culture, providing Azerbaijani audiences with a unique experience.

Moreover, Turkmen Literature Corner will be officially inaugurated at the Azerbaijan National Library, further enhancing cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The Turkmenistan Culture Days will play a significant role in deepening the bond between the two nations and fostering the growth of cultural relations.

The trilateral meeting between Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia in Baku is being held as part of ongoing consultations and coordination efforts in the regional framework, Azernews reports.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated during a press conference in Tehran that the discussions are focused on several key areas, including economic and trade cooperation.

Baghaei emphasized that the meeting demonstrates Iran and its neighboring countries’ commitment to strengthening regional stability through coordination and dialogue.

It should be noted that the trilateral meeting in Baku today is addressing the North-South International Transport Corridor, as well as issues related to energy, customs, and trade cooperation.

On October 13, the third trilateral meeting of the Speakers of the Parliaments of Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Trkiye commenced in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The event began with an Executive Session, Azernews reports.

According to the Press and Public Relations Department of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis (Parliament), the meeting was attended by Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Trkiye Numan Kurtulmus.

The parliamentary leaders emphasized the strong brotherly ties among the three nations and their legislative bodies. They expressed confidence that the meeting would provide significant momentum toward advancing the goals of trilateral parliamentary cooperation.

During the Executive Session, participants engaged in an in-depth exchange of views on key items on the agenda.

Following that, the official opening ceremony of the trilateral meeting took place.

The event will continue today with speeches by the parliamentary speakers and broader discussions involving members of parliament from all three countries.

This year, the 24th World Karting Championship (World Grand Final) races have been held at the “International South Garda” track in Lonato, Italy, Azernews reports.

The races were organized in five categories, with the track length being 1200 meters. Since 2001, the tournament has been considered one of the most prestigious events in the world of karting.

The competition featured 607 drivers from various countries, including European and world champions. Among the participants was Davin Jafarov, a young talent representing Azerbaijan motorsport, who was one of three drivers from Portugal. He participated for the first time in the BMB category and in the World Championship as a member of the BirelArt Portugal team.

Due to a minor accident in the qualifying round, Davin had to start from 32nd place, but he showcased an impressive performance, advancing to the semifinals and finals. In the final, he overtook 24 drivers, breaking the previous record of 14 overtakes set by Italian driver Lorenzo Pinyanelli, and also recorded the fastest lap of the race.

This achievement drew significant attention from commentators and fellow competitors. After the race, several international team managers and drivers approached the BirelArt Portugal tent to meet Davin and wish him success in his future career. Among them was the management of AW Racing, a team based in Milan, Italy, who offered him a spot on their team. However, the young driver preferred to continue competing with BirelArt for the time being.

Reflecting on his performance in the World Championship, Davin shared: “This was my first time competing at this level, on this track, and in the BMB category. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to come here earlier for practice sessions. The World Championship had 607 participants in 5 categories. The race was very intense, but I managed to advance to the semifinals. However, we had a small incident and some chassis issues, which meant I had to start from 32nd place. Despite that, I overtook 24 drivers and finished 8th overall. Starting from so far behind on this track and achieving this result was really tough, so this is a huge accomplishment for me and my team. Many other drivers and team managers came to our tent to meet and talk with me. They were surprised to see an Azerbaijani driver perform at this level in international karting for the first time. There were also world and European champions in the competition, and the weather made the race even more difficult. It was an incredible honor and experience to represent my country and show how strong we are. I’m doing my best to prove that Azerbaijan can reach the top in motorsport on the world stage, and the support I get from my fellow countrymen motivates me even more.”

Note that Davin Jafarov is expected to participate in two more international races before the end of the year.

Baku is hosting a high-level trilateral meeting between Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia, aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of economy, transport, logistics, energy, and customs.

Azernews reports that Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev said during the meeting that such trilateral dialogues play an important role in deepening collaboration in areas of mutual interest. The talks are co-chaired by Mustafayev, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Overchuk, and Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadeghi.

‘The discussions we are holding in this trilateral format are of great importance for expanding trade, economic, transport, and energy ties among our countries,’ Mustafayev stated. ‘I am confident that our constructive dialogue will further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation among Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia.’

He stressed that Azerbaijan remains committed to the principles of good-neighborliness, mutual understanding, and equal partnership with both Iran and Russia, expressing confidence that relations with both countries would continue to develop in the spirit of friendship and cooperation.

Highlighting the need to enhance interstate relations based on mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs, Mustafayev emphasized the importance of peace, stability, and prosperity for regional collaboration. He noted the growing relevance of the ‘3+3’ regional consultation platform, initiated by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, which complements existing bilateral and trilateral mechanisms, strengthens regional security, and opens new opportunities for economic growth.

Mustafayev recalled that the trilateral cooperation format was also established at the initiative of President Aliyev. The first Azerbaijan-Iran-Russia Summit was held in Baku on August 8, 2016, followed by the second summit in Tehran on November 1, 2017.

Speaking about key areas of cooperation, the deputy prime minister underscored the strategic importance of the North-South International Transport Corridor, which plays a vital role in boosting trade between the three nations. He noted that the volume of freight transported along the corridor grew significantly in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period last year.

‘As the only country with land borders with both Iran and Russia, Azerbaijan occupies a strategic position on the western segment of the corridor. This geographic advantage allows our nation to play a central role in enhancing the corridor’s efficiency and regional transport connectivity,’ he said, adding that joint efforts are underway to increase the corridor’s capacity and transit potential.

Mustafayev recalled that the Baku Declaration, adopted after the 2022 trilateral meeting, envisions raising the corridor’s freight capacity to 15 million tons. He also referred to bilateral agreements signed among the three sides to further improve infrastructure and connectivity.

The deputy prime minister pointed out that an agreement between the governments of Iran and Russia on the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway was signed in May 2023, while another agreement between Azerbaijan and Russia was concluded in December 2024 to enhance cooperation in freight transit along the North-South corridor.

He added that construction of the South Cargo Terminal in Iran’s Astara city, owned by Azerbaijan Railways and considered a key component of the North-South Corridor, is nearing completion.

Mustafayev further reminded that in December 2023, a new automobile bridge and border checkpoint over the Astarachay River on the Azerbaijan-Iran border were commissioned. Meanwhile, construction of the Agband-Kalaleh Bridge over the Araz River continues under an intergovernmental memorandum signed between Azerbaijan and Iran in March 2022. The bridge, part of the Araz Corridor, is expected to be completed by the end of this year, with associated customs infrastructure to follow in the first quarter of next year.

The Horadiz-Agband highway and railway projects are also expected to be finalized next year, creating a new segment that will connect both the East-West and North-South transport corridors.

‘This crucial infrastructure will not only serve as a new link between the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea but also enhance Azerbaijan’s role as a vital transit hub in the region,’ Mustafayev concluded.

Azerbaijan National Art Museum will host a lecture titled “Diego Rivera: The Promise of a Better Future” on October 15, Azernews reports.

During the lecture, director of the Anahuacalli Museum, María Teresa Moya Malfavón, will provide detailed information about the “Diego Rivera: The Promise of a Better Future” exhibition, which was held at the Azerbaijan National Art Museum as the first major international project led by her museum.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the world-renowned Mexican artist Diego Rivera, who was known for his strong social stance.

The lecture will explore Rivera’s famous mural paintings created for various buildings in Mexico and abroad, which reflect the spirit of the people, the working class, and ideals of social justice.

Attendees will also gain insights into Rivera’s artistic philosophy, his vision for the future, and the social messages conveyed through his works.

The event starts at 16:00.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az.