Category: Azer News

Former commander of the Armenian occupying forces in Garabagh, Jalal Harutyunyan, will finally serve his prison sentence, Azernews reports citing Armenian media.

According to the information, Armenia’s Court of Cassation has refused to review the lawyers’ appeal and upheld the decision of the Court of Appeals. As a result, the previously issued sentence of 5.5 years in prison for the general has officially come into force.

Harutyunyan had earlier been found guilty of negligence under martial law in a high-profile criminal case initiated in 2022, connected to certain episodes of the 44-day war. The case drew significant public attention as it exposed shortcomings in Armenia’s military leadership during the conflict.

In August 2025, lawyers representing the heirs of Armenian soldiers who died due to Harutyunyan’s negligence claimed that the general had been attempting to evade punishment, deliberately avoiding court documents and skipping hearings to delay the process.

With the latest court ruling, his attempts to escape accountability have come to an end.

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s largest automaker, announced on Wednesday that its sales rose by 8.3% in September compared to the same month last year, driven primarily by strong demand for high-end and sport utility vehicle (SUV) models, Azernews reports, citing Yonhap agency.

The company sold 372,298 vehicles in September, up from 336,140 units in September 2024, according to an official statement.

Domestic sales surged 18.3% to 66,001 units, compared to 55,805 a year earlier, while overseas sales increased 6.4% to 306,297 units from 287,872.

The top-selling model in the domestic market was the Avante sedan with 7,657 units sold, followed by the Santa Fe SUV with 5,763 units, and the Grandeur sedan at 5,398 units.

From January to September, Hyundai’s total sales increased by 1.1%, reaching 3,110,909 vehicles, up from 3,075,720 in the same period last year.

‘Strong sales of our flagship models have continued to drive year-on-year global growth,’ said a Hyundai Motor spokesperson. ‘We will continue to expand our market share steadily by launching new vehicles with exceptional product appeal.’

Hyundai has been aggressively investing in electric and hybrid SUVs, positioning itself as a major player in the growing eco-friendly vehicle market, which is expected to be a key driver of future growth worldwide.

The 11th Baku International Book Fair has opened its doors at Baku Expo Center, Azernews reports.

Organized by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the event was attended by members of the Azerbaijani Parliament, government officials, as well as representatives of literature and foreign guests.

During the opening ceremony Chairman of the Culture Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament, People’s Artist Polad Bulbuloglu stated that this international exhibition demonstrates Azerbaijan’s cultural potential, the development of the publishing industry, and the strengthening of ties with world literature. He expressed confidence that such projects will expand even further in the future.

In his speech, President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Academician Isa Habibbayli stressed that the book fairs are significant events in the cultural life of society.

According to him, such events not only present new books but also create extensive opportunities for the development of reading culture, the strengthening of reading habits, and the exchange of scientific and literary ideas. The academician emphasized that these exhibitions serve to promote the national and spiritual values, to familiarize the public with world literature, and to introduce Azerbaijan’s rich scientific and cultural heritage.

The Azerbaijan’s Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva emphasized that such international exhibitions are of great importance not only for culture but also for education, particularly in expanding legal knowledge.

She outlined that the events like these, aimed at raising awareness about human rights, contribute to the development of legal thinking and legal culture in society, help citizens better understand their rights and duties, and create a foundation for increasing transparency and accountability in the activities of government institutions.

Other speakers at the event, including People’s Writer and First Secretary of the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union, Chingiz Abdullayev, Deputy Culture Minister Farid Jafarov, and Chairman of the Azerbaijan Publishers Association, Shamil Sadik, all highlighted the significance of the exhibition in the development of book culture in the country.

They stated that the exhibition serves as a bridge between writers and readers, contributing to the increasing interest of the new generation in literature and promoting national literary heritage.

In line with the contemporary challenges of the world, this year’s Baku International Book Fair, dedicated to the theme “Techno-Human: Yesterday’s Legend, Today’s Reality,” features 68 foreign organizations from 23 countries (Turkiye, Italy, the USA, Argentina, the UK, Lithuania, Qatar, Indonesia, Spain, China, South Korea, etc.) and 123 local publishing houses, printing, and book-related enterprises.

The 11th Baku International Book Fair will be recorded in history as the one with the highest number of foreign participants. Spain, Kuwait, and Indonesia are participating for the first time.

Over the course of seven days, more than 220 events are planned to take place in presentation zones, booths, and conference rooms.

The exhibition will feature masterclasses for children and adults, book presentations on inclusivity and other relevant topics, book signings, conferences, symposia, competitions, reading and music hours, as well as cooperation platforms for the participants of the book industry.

This year, the State of Qatar is the honorary guest country. Qatar is represented at the fair by a large delegation consisting of government officials, renowned scientists, literary figures, and artists.

The International Pavilion of the exhibition showcases Qatar’s unique cultural heritage, contemporary literature, and artistic treasures. Additionally, in the special zone for children, interactive presentations, examples of children’s literature, and cultural programs will be organized for young visitors.

Azerbaijan’s People’s Writers, poets, well-known young authors, as well as famous foreign writers are participating in the exhibition.

For the first time this year, the exhibition halls have been organized in accordance with international standards.

Two halls have been opened at the Baku Expo Center this year, with foreign participants being represented in the International Hall.

Given the intensification of commercial relations between local and foreign entities in the book industry sector, a “Networking Zone,” “Illustrators Wall,” and “Signature Zone” (for book signing ceremonies after authors’ presentations) have been created for the first time at the exhibition.

As in previous years, the exhibition will host a specially designed “Children’s World,” story hours, performances, and other activities for young readers. In other words, opportunities for reading are provided for every member of the family at the exhibition.

During the book fair, visitors will be able to use special buses from the “Elml?r Akademiyasi,” “28 May,” and “Koroglu” metro stations to the Baku Expo Center throughout the daytime.

Entrance to the exhibition is free of charge.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev shared a post on his social media accounts congratulating the Qarabag football club on their latest victory.

Azernews presents the post: ‘I wholeheartedly congratulate the Qarabag football club and the entire Azerbaijani football community on their confident victory over the Danish champion, Copenhagen football club.

Qarabag continues to make our nation proud by securing two brilliant wins in two matches in the league phase of the world’s strongest club tournament, sharing the top positions with the giants of international football.’

Preparations are underway for the training and certification of tourist guides for the Garabagh region, alongside the development of online tourist guide commentaries for the area, Azernews reports.

The initiative also includes improving the quality of tourist guidance in the Baku-Absheron region and preparing Chinese-speaking guides to enhance services for international visitors.

The State Tourism Agency has already launched the relevant work and entrusted its implementation to the Public Union of the Azerbaijan Tourist Guides Association. A contract has been signed, with 118 thousand manats (approximately $69,000) allocated to the public union for the project.

This initiative is part of Azerbaijan’s broader efforts to strengthen the tourism sector in recently liberated territories and key regions frequented by international tourists.

Euronews has recently published a report on the success of the Baku Security Forum, underlining Azerbaijan’s growing role as a hub for international dialogue on global security issues, Azernews reports.

The third edition of the forum brought together representatives from more than 80 countries to exchange views on countering terrorism, cybercrime, disinformation, and humanitarian crises.

The report notes that the forum served as an important platform for global cooperation, emphasizing that modern security challenges require joint responses. ‘The speakers emphasized that global terrorist networks can only be effectively confronted through unified strategies of governments. The participation of the UN in the forum for the first time demonstrates the importance of the event in terms of developing real security measures. The delegates concluded that international cooperation is vital today to protect citizens, strengthen the resilience of states and develop trust between countries in a rapidly changing security environment,’ Euronews stated.

The Baku Security Forum has steadily gained international recognition in recent years, with experts pointing out that its agenda reflects the pressing challenges of global security architecture and highlights Azerbaijan’s mediating role in fostering trust and collaboration.

China’s General Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 51.2 in September, while the Services PMI reached 52.9, according to fresh data released Tuesday by RatingDog. Both figures remain above the 50-point mark, signaling continued expansion across key areas of the Chinese economy, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

Commenting on the manufacturing data, Yao Yu, founder of RatingDog, said the latest reading ‘indicates a sustained improvement in manufacturing conditions.’ He also highlighted a notable milestone: ‘New export orders returned to growth for the first time since March 2025,’ suggesting a gradual rebound in external demand.

The services sector also remained resilient, although growth slightly moderated compared to August. ‘It’s encouraging to see that demand for services stayed solid in September,’ Yao added. ‘New export business expanded for the third consecutive month, with survey feedback pointing to a continued recovery in the tourism sector as a key driver.’

This uptick in economic indicators comes amid growing optimism around China’s post-pandemic recovery efforts, supported by targeted policy stimulus and improving global trade sentiment. Analysts suggest that sustained momentum in both manufacturing and services could help China stay on track with its annual growth targets, despite broader global headwinds.

The third day of Baku Climate Action Week 2025 has officially begun.

Azernews reports that today’s session will feature keynote speeches by COP29 President and the Azerbaijani President’s Special Representative on Climate Issues, Mukhtar Babayev, as well as Azerbaijan’s Minister of Agriculture, Majnun Mammadov, among other high-level officials.

The day’s agenda will focus on critical climate-related challenges, including agriculture and food security in the context of climate change, climate technologies, and the sustainable management of regional water resources.

It’s worth noting that Azerbaijan successfully hosted the first Baku Climate Action Week in 2024, held in partnership with London. That inaugural event served as a nationwide call to mobilize society in the lead-up to COP29, scheduled for November 2024.

Azerbaijani taekwondo national team member Ziya Hasanli (63 kg) has secured the country’s first gold medal at the 3rd CIS Games, Azernews reports.

This accomplishment represents a historic moment for Azerbaijani taekwondo.

Following his win, Hasanli expressed his feelings, mentioning that he had undergone rigorous preparation over a long period to achieve the championship:

“I achieved my goal, and I’m happy. The final fight was especially tough, but I managed to win. Winning the first taekwondo gold in the history of the CIS Games is an incredible feeling.”

On his way to the gold medal, Hasanli competed in three matches, showcasing remarkable strength and determination throughout:

“I faced three opponents. The toughest was the last fight, but I was ready, and I’m very happy with my performance. My next goal is to become an Olympic champion”, he concluded.

The third Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Games are underway in Azerbaijan from September 28 to October 8, 2025, marking a major highlight in the region’s sports calendar.

This multi-sport event unites athletes from CIS member nations and invited countries, aiming to foster friendship, cooperation, and sporting excellence.

For the first time in the history of the CIS Games, competitions are being held across seven Azerbaijani cities: Ganja, Mingachevir, Gabala, Shaki, Goygol, Yevlakh, and Khankandi.

Each city is hosting different sports, with Ganja, the country’s second-largest city, serving as the central hub and officially recognised as the CIS Sports Capital for 2025.

The event’s mascots, Babir and Leyla, are engaging young fans and building excitement around the games.

About 23 sports are taking place at 12 venues, showcasing a diverse and comprehensive program.

CIS Games 2025 brought together approximately 1,624 athletes from 13 countries.

The trial of Armenian national Ruben Vardanyan, charged under multiple articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan for crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and other grave offenses, continued on September 30, Azernews reports.

The open hearing was held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov, and reserve judge Gunel Samedova. The defendant was provided with interpretation into Russian, his native language, and was represented by a lawyer of his choosing.

At the outset, Judge Agayev introduced the court panel, state prosecutors, interpreters, and others involved in the proceedings to the victims and their legal successors appearing for the first time, and explained their rights and obligations under the law.

The court noted that interpreter Islam Agakerimov, who had previously participated in the preparatory hearings, had notified the court that he was unable to attend due to health reasons. Earlier, Vardanyan himself had requested Agakerimov’s participation, and the court had issued him a summons.

Defense attorney Avraam Berman requested access to the court session protocols and the provision of additional copies of decisions on defense motions. Judge Agayev replied that the defense would be granted access to the protocols and asked that they specify which rulings they sought copies of.

The hearing then continued with testimonies from victims and their legal successors.

Camal Heydarov, legal successor of victim Shair Heydarov, testified that his son was killed in Lachin as a result of enemy fire.

Sevinc Jalilova, mother of victim Devid Jalilov, stated that her son was killed in Aghdara due to fire from remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups.

Javanshir Zulfuqarov testified that his son was killed by enemy fire.

Farid Aliyev, son of victim Tofiq Aliyev, said his father was killed by sniper fire in Khankendi from remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian units.

Answering questions from Prosecutor Nasir Bayramov, Shirzad Samedov, brother of victim Siraj Abishov, stated that his brother was killed when an anti-tank mine exploded in the village of Susuzlug, Kalbajar. ‘My brother was an AzTV cameraman. Alongside him, AZERTAC correspondent Maharram Ibrahimov and Arif Aliyev, deputy head of the Susuzlug village administrative unit, were also killed. Four others were injured,’ he said.

Victim Elkin Mirzayev testified that he sustained shrapnel wounds in Khojaly from enemy fire.

Victim Rauf Huseynov said he was wounded when an enemy mortar shell exploded, killing several people nearby.

Victim Orkhan Baladov stated that he and several others were injured when their car was struck by a rocket in the village of Janyatag, Aghdara district.

Victim Eltun Mammadov said he was injured by enemy fire in Dashalti, Shusha.

Victim Mukhtar Aliyev testified that he was shot in the leg in Gulabli village, Aghdam, by enemy fire, in which another person was killed.

Victim Nazir Jalilov reported that he was wounded when his car came under enemy fire in Shusha district.

Victim Parvin Babayev said he was injured by artillery fire in Shusha.

Victims Emil Aliyev, Farhad Rzayev, and Ayyub Mammadov testified that they were wounded by enemy fire in the Kalbajar direction.

Answering Prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev’s questions, Vidadi Mammadov said he was wounded during mine clearance work in Lachin when the enemy opened fire.

Victim Raqif Aliyev stated that his car was hit by a rocket in Janyatag, Aghdara district, injuring him and several others and killing some people.

Victim Asgar Guliyev testified that he sustained injuries to his leg from enemy fire near Shusha, where several others were killed or wounded.

Other victims – Anar Aziz-zade, Aydin Verdiyev, Yunis Ismayilov, Valeh Mammadov, Ali Maharramov, Jeyhun Hasan-zade, Nicat Teymurov, Eltekin Hasanov, Yahya Guliyev, Arif Abbasov, Vusal Huseynov, Ali Alakbarov, Zaur Mammadov, Vasif Osmanov, Mehti Mursalov, and Alizamin Ismayilov – testified that they were wounded across different Azerbaijani regions due to provocations, gunfire, and mines planted by remnants of the Armenian army and illegal armed groups.

Medical forensic reports on the victims were also announced during the session.

The next hearing was scheduled for October 7.

Ruben Vardanyan faces charges under numerous articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, including: planning and waging aggressive war (Articles 100.1, 100.2), deportation and forced displacement (107), persecution (109), enforced disappearance (110), unlawful imprisonment (112), torture (113), mercenarism (114.1), violations of the laws and customs of war (115.2, 116 series), premeditated murder and attempted murder (120.2, 29.120.2), illegal entrepreneurship (192.3.1), terrorism (214.2, 214-1), creating a criminal organization (218.1, 218.2), illegal possession of weapons and explosives (228.3), acts endangering aviation safety (270-1), violent seizure of power (278.1), forming unlawful armed groups (279), and illegal border crossing (318.2).