Category: Azer News

The speed of change in Garabagh and East Zangazur is beginning to redefine what post-conflict reconstruction can look like. Less than five years after Azerbaijan restored full sovereignty over its internationally recognised territories, districts once associated with abandoned towns, ruined villages, and destroyed infrastructure are rapidly emerging as some of the country’s most ambitious development zones. Modern highways slice through mountain ranges, international airports connect previously inaccessible districts, new power plants feed growing settlements, while smart villages and modern urban centres are replacing decades of devastation. What is unfolding is no longer simply reconstruction. It is the creation of an entirely new regional economy that is poised to become one of Azerbaijan’s principal engines of long-term growth.

President Ilham Aliyev’s latest visit to Shusha, Khojavand, Khankendi and Lachin offered another glimpse into the extraordinary pace of this transformation. His regular inspections have become more than ceremonial visits; they serve as strategic reviews of one of the largest state investment programmes in Azerbaijan’s history. Every visit demonstrates measurable progress, from newly completed roads and tunnels to schools, hospitals, residential neighbourhoods and industrial facilities that are steadily restoring life across the liberated territories.

Infrastructure has become the backbone of Azerbaijan’s vision for Garabagh. Efficient transport links are reconnecting districts that remained isolated for decades, while new electricity transmission networks, renewable energy projects, water reservoirs and digital infrastructure are creating conditions for sustainable economic activity. These investments are designed not merely to support returning residents but to attract businesses, develop agriculture, expand tourism, stimulate manufacturing and strengthen Azerbaijan’s position along the rapidly growing Middle Corridor connecting Asia with Europe.

The significance of this approach extends well beyond domestic development. Garabagh and especially East Zangazur occupy a strategic geographical position linking western Azerbaijan with regional transport routes. As logistics infrastructure expands, these territories are expected to become important hubs for trade, freight movement and regional connectivity, complementing Azerbaijan’s broader ambition to establish itself as Eurasia’s leading transport and logistics centre.

Among the most meaningful moments of the President’s visit were his meetings with returning residents in Shusha’s Kichik Galaderesi village and the residents in Khojavand’s Guzeykhirman village. The encounter reflected the true objective of reconstruction: bringing people back home. Roads, buildings and public facilities only acquire lasting value when communities return to fill them with life. Families who were displaced for decades are now rebuilding their futures in newly constructed homes equipped with modern infrastructure and public services.

Addressing residents, President Aliyev reaffirmed the purpose behind Azerbaijan’s reconstruction policy, declaring:

“Today, more than 90,000 people live, work, and study in the liberated territories, and their number increases every month and will continue to grow.”

The statement captures the central achievement of Azerbaijan’s post-conflict strategy. Victory on the battlefield has evolved into restoration through development, turning liberated territories into places where citizens can once again build prosperous lives.

Moreover, the economic dividends are already becoming visible. Improved infrastructure is encouraging investment in agriculture, mining, renewable energy, tourism and light industry. Shusha continues to strengthen its position as Azerbaijan’s cultural capital, attracting domestic and international visitors. Lachin’s natural landscapes offer growing opportunities for eco-tourism, while Khankendi and Khojavand are gradually integrating into the country’s wider economic network. Together, these developments are creating new jobs, expanding business opportunities and laying the foundations for sustained regional prosperity.

President Aliyev’s continued personal oversight demonstrates that Garabagh remains at the heart of Azerbaijan’s national development agenda. His visits consistently reinforce the message that reconstruction is not solely about replacing what was lost, but about building something significantly better than before.

The transformation of Garabagh and East Zangazur has therefore become much more than a reconstruction programme. It is the most visible expression of Azerbaijan’s restored sovereignty, its confidence in its own economic capabilities and its determination to convert historic victory into lasting prosperity. If the current pace continues, the liberated territories will not only stand as symbols of national resilience but will increasingly serve as one of the country’s strongest drivers of economic growth, regional connectivity and sustainable development for decades to come.

“I am glad that Azerbaijan-Slovakia relations are developing successfully. Our political contacts are regular,” said President Ilham Aliyev during a joint press statement with President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini.

The head of state noted that the dynamic development of bilateral relations demonstrates the commitment of both sides.

A panel discussion titled “Media Horizons: Artificial Intelligence, Visual Storytelling and Next-Generation Experiences” was held as part of the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum, bringing together media experts, bloggers and technology specialists to examine the rapidly evolving digital media landscape.

AzerNEWS reports that the session was moderated by Farhad Mammadov, Director of the Center for South Caucasus Studies.

Participants discussed the transformation of the modern media environment, the growing influence of artificial intelligence on journalism, emerging opportunities in visual storytelling, and effective strategies for engaging audiences across digital platforms.

The panel featured technology bloggers Farid Pardashunas and Tariyel Agazade, alongside bloggers Gela Vasadze and Diana Knud.

Speakers noted that while artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for the media industry, it is also raising significant challenges related to information security, content credibility and adherence to ethical standards. They emphasized that the rapid pace of technological advancement requires journalists to acquire new skills, make effective use of digital tools and continuously adapt to changing media trends.

The discussion also highlighted the growing importance of visual content in capturing the attention of modern audiences, with participants stressing that next-generation media formats are becoming increasingly central to the way information is presented and consumed.

Concluding the session, panelists agreed that artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies will play a defining role in shaping the future of journalism, underscoring the need for responsible, professional and ethical use of these emerging tools.

BMW is recalling 29,119 vehicles in the United States after identifying a defect that could increase the risk of a vehicle fire, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

The safety recall involves a potential issue with the engine starter relay, which may become corroded over time. In some cases, corrosion could lead to overheating or an electrical short circuit, creating a fire hazard even when the vehicle is parked.

The affected vehicles include several plug-in hybrid models, such as the BMW 530e xDrive, 740Le xDrive, and certain BMW iPerformance vehicles manufactured during specific production periods.

BMW has stated that authorized dealerships will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the faulty components free of charge. Owners of impacted vehicles will be notified and encouraged to schedule a service appointment as soon as possible.

Although no widespread injuries have been linked to the issue, automotive safety experts advise owners to pay close attention to any warning signs, such as unusual electrical behavior, the smell of burning, or smoke, and to seek immediate inspection if such symptoms appear.

Vehicle recalls have become increasingly common across the automotive industry as manufacturers adopt stricter quality control measures and respond more quickly to potential safety risks, helping to prevent more serious incidents before they occur.

A prison inmate in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria has been fined ?30,000 ($390) after describing participation in Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine as “haram,” according to independent media outlet Caucasian Knot, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the report, Alibek Suyunchev was found guilty by the Chegem District Court of “discrediting” the Russian armed forces after making the remarks during a meeting between prisoners and representatives of Russia’s Defense Ministry.

The officials were reportedly encouraging inmates to sign military contracts and enlist to fight in Ukraine when Suyunchev stated that participation in the war was “haram,” an Arabic term referring to something forbidden under Islamic law.

The court imposed the minimum penalty under Russia’s legislation on discrediting the armed forces, a fine of ?30,000 ($390).

There is no universally accepted Islamic position on participation in Russia’s war against Ukraine, and Muslim organizations have adopted differing stances. The Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation has publicly supported Russian troops and organized humanitarian assistance for soldiers and their families.

Russia introduced the administrative offense of “discrediting” the armed forces in March 2022, shortly after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The law provides for fines ranging from ?30,000 to ?100,000 ($390-$1,300) for individuals, while repeat offenses within one year can result in criminal prosecution.

According to Caucasian Knot, several residents of Kabardino-Balkaria have been prosecuted under the law since its adoption. Among them was Islam Mambetov, who was fined ?100,000 ($1,300) in 2023 after reposting social media content that the court ruled discredited the Russian military.

Mongolia’s National Center for Zoonotic Diseases (NCZD) has warned the public about the potential risk of bubonic plague and urged people to follow preventive measures to avoid infection, AzerNEWS reports.

Despite a legal ban on marmot hunting in Mongolia, the practice continues illegally because the animal is regarded as a traditional delicacy by some communities.

According to Xinhua, the risk of infection increases during the summer months, when more people visit rural areas for leisure activities and some consume marmot meat.

In recent years, Mongolia has recorded several bubonic plague cases during this period, including deaths. The NCZD said that 17 out of the country’s 21 provinces are currently classified as areas at risk.

The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that bubonic plague is a bacterial infection spread mainly through flea bites from infected wild rodents, including marmots. Without timely treatment, the disease can progress rapidly and may become fatal within 24 hours.

Russian forces carried out more than 1,000 attacks across 54 settlements in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region over the past 24 hours, leaving 16 people injured, including a child, AzerNEWS reports, citing Ukrainian officials.

Ivan Fedorov, head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, said the attacks continued through Tuesday morning and targeted communities across the region.

“Over the past day, the occupying forces carried out 1,011 strikes on 54 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region. As a result of attacks on the city of Zaporizhzhia and the surrounding district, 16 people, including one child, were injured,” Fedorov wrote on Telegram.

He added that Russian forces launched 17 airstrikes on the region overnight.

In addition, Ukrainian authorities recorded the flight of 691 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various types during the reporting period.

On July 14, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held an expanded meeting with President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini in Shusha, AzerNEWS reports.

President Ilham Aliyev said: Dear guests, welcome to Azerbaijan. Welcome to Garabagh. I am very glad to see you. First of all, thank you for your hospitality. I have very good memories of my official visit to your country last year and of our discussions. I’m glad that we are continuing our active dialogue. I am also glad that you are accompanied by a very big delegation with very prominent figures of your administration and the government. We also have a big team and this actually demonstrates the scope of work, bilateral agenda, and those directions of our joint activity in which we see progress and where we want to see additional progress. We just had a tête-à-tête exchanging views on many issues, now we’ll continue with delegations, so I’m absolutely sure that this visit will give additional boost to our partnership.

It’s a special pleasure to host you in Garabagh. Tomorrow you will be in Baku. We will visit also the smart village which is being now developed by a Slovak company – another good demonstration of our strong bonds. Reconstruction here in Garabagh is now one of the main priorities for our government. Therefore, participation of Slovakian specialists is of extreme importance. We will cover many issues on our agenda today. Once again welcome and thank you for accepting my invitation.

President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini said: Thank you very much Mr. President. It is a great honor for us to be back in Azerbaijan with such a strong delegation, and once again I would like to thank you for your invitation.

I also have in my memory your visit in Bratislava, which was a historical one in our diplomatic relationships. Of course, I really appreciate your idea to meet not in Baku but here in Garabagh, in Shusa. We are really impressed; though we have only been here for a few hours since last night, we are already impressed by the work that has been done in the few years since liberation, and the infrastructure projects. We are really proud that Slovakia is part of this. We are only one of two foreign countries which are participating in these important projects. We hope that the Slovak experts will also continue working in the coming years on some other new projects here.

The Azerbaijan women’s national chess team has held a training camp in Shabran as part of preparations for the 46th World Chess Olympiad, which will take place in September in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, AzerNEWS reports.

The training sessions were led by team captain Nijat Abasov and coach Gadir Huseynov.

Following the training camp, members of the national team met with the leadership of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACF).

President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation, Mahir Mammadov was briefed on the team’s preparation program and discussed the tournaments the chess players are expected to participate in before the prestigious international competition.

The women’s national team includes Ulviyya Fataliyeva, Govhar Beydullayeva, Khanim Balajayeva, Gunay Mammadzada, and Gulnar Mammadova.

The World Chess Olympiad will be held from September 15 to 27 in Samarkand, bringing together leading chess players from around the world.

Founded in 1926, the Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACF) has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s strong chess tradition.

The ACF organizes national and international tournaments, provides training programs, and supports the growth of chess at all levels, from school children to grandmasters.

The Federation is also responsible for the success of its national teams, which have consistently performed well in prestigious competitions such as the Chess Olympiad and the World Chess Championship.

Kyrgyzstan has introduced a temporary ban on the export of crude oil and petroleum products by road and rail in an effort to stabilize the domestic fuel market. The restriction will remain in place until the country’s internal demand is fully met or until common oil and petroleum product markets are established within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), AzerNEWS reports.

The decision was approved by a resolution of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers. The restrictions apply to a wide range of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, and other fuels classified under the EAEU Harmonized System (HS) codes.

However, the ban does not cover certain products such as naphtha, fuel oil, and heating oil. Their export is still permitted if they are sent abroad for processing on the condition that the resulting products are later imported back into Kyrgyzstan.

The restrictions also do not apply to fuel contained in the standard tanks of vehicles crossing the country’s borders, allowing normal international transportation operations to continue.

In addition, the government has introduced temporary rules for regulating the import of oil and petroleum products. Until April 1, 2027, some existing import regulations have been suspended, while strict requirements remain in place regarding transportation safety, tax registration of suppliers, and the availability of necessary documentation.

According to the Cabinet of Ministers, these measures are aimed at strengthening Kyrgyzstan’s energy security, preventing possible fuel shortages, and ensuring stable supplies for consumers and businesses.

Experts note that Kyrgyzstan, which relies heavily on fuel imports, is taking steps to reduce the risks associated with fluctuations in global energy prices and regional supply disruptions. The move also reflects broader efforts by EAEU member states to coordinate energy policies and improve stability in fuel markets.