Category: Azer News

Air Tanzania has officially suspended flights between Moscow and Dar es Salaam as of September 4, citing safety concerns, according to reports.

The suspension comes less than two months after the airline resumed direct flights between Tanzania and Russia in July.

Air Tanzania is the latest foreign carrier to suspend or alter operations involving Russia amid heightened security concerns. Earlier, Israeli airline El Al suspended its flights to Moscow, while Air India rerouted flights between the United States and India to avoid Russian airspace.

Turkish Airlines has also canceled several flights to Russia.

The latest decisions follow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s warning regarding potential threats to civil aviation operating in or around Russian airspace.

Ukraine has called on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to completely prohibit civilian aircraft from flying over Russian territory, arguing that the growing intensity of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has created heightened risks for commercial aviation.

According to Ukraine’s Zerkalo Nedeli, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Mykola Kalashnyk made the appeal in a letter to ICAO, warning that the continued presence of civilian aircraft in Russian airspace could expose passengers and crews to significant dangers amid the escalation of aerial attacks.

‘Ukraine, exercising its inherent right to self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, is compelled to respond appropriately to Russia’s terrorist air attacks,’ Kalashnyk said in the letter.

‘Against the backdrop of the escalation provoked by the Russian Federation, we understand that the presence of civilian aircraft in the airspace of the Russian Federation may entail particularly high risks. This is an impartial warning regarding the aforementioned threat,’ he added.

Iran used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with artificial intelligence technology during retaliatory airstrikes against US military bases in the Middle East. This was reported by Mohammad Akraminiya, a representative of the Islamic Republic’s armed forces.

“During the latest operations against the enemy, we used Fateh-class surface-to-surface missiles and Arash-2 drones equipped with artificial intelligence,” he said on state television.

According to the Iranian military official, Iran’s armed forces are carrying out retaliatory strikes “in a coordinated and asymmetric manner,” allowing them to hit targets more effectively.

Akraminiya added that Tehran does not rule out carrying out preemptive operations if new threats emerge. He also warned Israel that Iran’s response to any new aggression would be “swift and devastating.”

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan’s foreign ministers discussed the current agenda of strategic relations between the two countries, as well as the state of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

According to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held a phone conversation with Kazakhstan’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi.

During the call, Bayramov sincerely congratulated Tleuberdi on his appointment and wished him success in his new position.

The ministers discussed the current agenda of strategic relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, the state of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and prospects for expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Bayramov noted with satisfaction that Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan relations are developing dynamically on the basis of friendship, brotherhood, mutual trust and solidarity. The importance of further expanding bilateral ties across all areas and giving them new momentum was also emphasized.

The sides praised their effective cooperation and mutual support within international and regional organizations. They stressed the importance of continuing to coordinate their positions and maintain close cooperation on multilateral platforms.

The ministers also exchanged views on a wide range of other regional and international issues of mutual interest.

PASHA Real Estate Group and Marriott International, Inc., announced this week a signed agreement to launch three new hotel and residential properties across Azerbaijan and Georgia. The planned projects include a luxury hotel and branded residences under The Ritz-Carlton along the shores of Zagulba Beach in Baku, along with the extension of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Baku, within a new residential tower. The agreement also includes the anticipated addition of a Le Méridien hotel in Tbilisi.

The signing ceremony for the new projects took place at The Ritz-Carlton, Baku in the presence of Özgr Geter, Chief Executive Officer of PASHA Real Estate Group and Neal Jones, President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International, along with other senior leaders from both organizations.

‘As a company, we are committed to shaping destinations that contribute to the long-term growth and attractiveness of Azerbaijan and the wider region,’ said Özgr Geter, Chief Executive Officer of PASHA Real Estate Group. ‘These projects reflect our vision to deliver world-class hospitality and luxury living experiences that meet evolving consumer expectations while creating lasting value for our communities and stakeholders. Our relationship with Marriott has been built on a shared commitment to excellence, innovation and exceptional guest experiences, and we are proud to expand that collaboration through the introduction of new landmark developments under some of the world’s most renowned brands.’

‘Eastern Europe and the Caucasus remain an important growth area for Marriott, supported by increasing travel demand, evolving hospitality infrastructure and strong consumer and owner appetite for globally recognized brands,’ said Neal Jones, President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. ‘These agreements reflect the momentum we are seeing across the region and our strategy to expand a diverse portfolio of brands that resonates with a wide range of travelers and trip purposes, while also catering to the growing demand for premium lifestyle and luxury living experiences. We look forward to expanding our relationship with PASHA Real Estate as we further strengthen our presence in these dynamic markets.’

The Ritz-Carlton Baku, Zagulba and The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Baku, Zagulba

The company is anticipated to bring The Ritz-Carlton’s legendary service and elegant design to the shores of Bilgah Beach, a sought-after seaside retreat north of Baku on the Caspian Sea. The Ritz-Carlton Baku, Zagulba is expected to feature 80 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites in a beach resort location. Plans for the property include distinct dining venues and a range of facilities such as an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, spa, a beach club and The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge.

The project is also anticipated to include The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Baku, Zagulba which will feature 282 luxury apartments and villas that aim to elevate daily life with sophisticated style and legendary service. Plans for the residences include dedicated facilities such as a clubhouse, fitness centre, swimming pool, kids club, cinema and private beach access.

Extension of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Baku

Following the successful launch of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Baku in 2023, PASHA Real Estate Group plans to develop a new tower within the existing site which is anticipated to feature 238 additional luxury residences along with dedicated amenities such as a lounge, fitness center and swimming pool.

Le Méridien Tbilisi

Le Méridien plans to expand its portfolio in Georgia with the addition of a hotel within the Chugureti district of central Tbilisi, one of the city’s most vibrant and emerging neighborhoods. Le Méridien Tbilisi is expected to feature 152 contemporary guestrooms along with multiple dining outlets, meeting and events space and a fitness center. The property will reflect Le Méridien’s spirit of savoring the good life and feature signature brand programs and spaces, such as Le Méridien Hub – a modern reinterpretation of the traditional hotel lobby.

The newly signed projects further strengthen the collaboration between PASHA Real Estate Group and Marriott International which currently comprises The Ritz-Carlton, Baku; The St. Regis Baku, JW Marriott Absheron Baku, Baku Marriott Hotel Boulevard, Sheraton Baku Intourist Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Baku, Pik Palace, Shahdag, Autograph Collection and Park Chalet, Shahdag, Autograph Collection.

About PASHA Real Estate Group

PASHA Real Estate Group, part of PASHA Holding, specializes in real estate investment, development, construction, strategic management, and asset operation. The company’s geographic footprint covers Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Montenegro, and the USA. The group’s portfolio includes elite hotels, world-class resorts, retail complexes, premium residential real estate, and multifunctional projects. Guided by the principles of quality, reliability, and customer focus, “PASHA Real Estate Group” strives to set new industry standards and ensure sustained growth in the value of its assets internationally. www.pasharealestate.az

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of compelling brands across luxury, premium, select, midscale, extended stay, and all-inclusive, with over 10,000 properties in 148 countries and territories, as of June 30, 2026. Marriott franchises, operates, and licenses hotel, residential, timeshare, yacht, outdoor, and other lodging products all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel platform. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com

The Azerbaijan National Paralympic Committee will hold an Open Day to discover new talent in para athletics, encourage people with disabilities to take part in sports, and identify promising athletes for the national team’s reserve pool.

Participants aged 12-17 will have the opportunity to test their skills in para athletics disciplines, including running, long jump and shot put, and undergo an initial assessment under the supervision of specialists.

The event will take place on September 17 from 12:00 to 14:00 at the Baku Athletics Center.

The Open Day is open to 12-17-year-olds with upper- or lower-limb amputations or limb deficiencies, visual impairments, dwarfism or cerebral palsy.

Through the initiative, the National Paralympic Committee aims to promote para athletics among a wider audience, identify new talent and select promising athletes who could potentially join the national team in the future.

Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson Ling Huang accused other G20 members of “promoting protectionism” on Thursday after they backed a statement criticizing heavy reliance on exports.

“China believes that taking advantage of the G20 and other multilateral mechanisms to hype up so-called ‘economic imbalances’ and ‘overcapacity’ is essentially promoting protectionism,” Huang told a weekly press conference. “This will only disrupt the global economic and trade order, and harm the healthy development of the global economy.”

China was the only G20 member to oppose the joint statement over references to economic imbalances. Huang also urged Washington to “immediately correct its wrong practices and lift sanctions against relevant Chinese companies and citizens.”

Her comments came after United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington planned to sanction another bank over Iran-related transactions and that “all options are on the table” regarding action against China over its purchases from Iran.

The gas-fired power plant that Azerbaijan plans to build in the Serbian city of Nis could become an important element of the country’s evolving energy system, with the pound 600 million project designed to generate 350 megawatts of electricity alongside 150 megawatts of heat from a total capacity of 500 megawatts. Beyond adding new generation capacity, the plant is significant because it would strengthen the reliability and flexibility of Serbia’s wider energy network at a time when the country is seeking to diversify its energy sources and reduce vulnerabilities in its electricity supply.

The project also gives Azerbaijan and SOCAR a role that extends well beyond simply supplying natural gas to the Serbian market. By participating directly in electricity generation, SOCAR would move further downstream into Serbia’s energy sector, creating a model in which Azerbaijani gas is not only exported as a commodity but is also used to generate electricity and heat within the country. That gives Baku a broader commercial stake in Serbia’s energy infrastructure while deepening the strategic dimension of the two countries’ growing energy relationship.

The governments of Azerbaijan and Serbia signed an agreement on the project in February, while SOCAR and Serbia’s state-owned electricity company EPS have since reached an agreement on the key principles governing the plant’s construction, development and operation. The final agreement is now being prepared, marking another step toward turning the project from a bilateral energy commitment into a long-term infrastructure investment that could expand Azerbaijan’s role in Serbia’s energy market.

As we know, SOCAR was known for many years only for the extraction and sale of oil and gas. Now this company cannot be called an ordinary oil company. SOCAR is now operating in all segments of oil and gas that can create added value. This enterprise, which will be built in the city of Niš, will add a new level to SOCAR’s activities – electricity production.

Regarding the capacity of the enterprise, we should note that if it operates at full capacity, it will produce 350 megawatts of electricity, which means 3.1 terawatt-hours of electricity per year. Considering that Serbia’s annual electricity consumption is about 30 terawatt-hours, we can say that the power plant in the city of Niš will meet about 10 percent of the country’s needs.

As we mentioned earlier, this plant will also produce 150 megawatts of heat in addition to electricity. In more detail, the water used to produce electricity will not be wasted and will be used by homes and other enterprises. According to calculations, 150 megawatts of heat is equivalent to approximately 1.3 terawatt-hours of thermal energy, which will be able to benefit thousands of homes or enterprises.

All this will significantly increase Azerbaijan’s position in both Serbia and Europe, indirectly through SOCAR. As we have already mentioned, SOCAR will no longer be just a Serbian gas exporting company, but will convert the gas it transports to Europe into electricity and heat, creating added value.

Considering that this plant to be built or new gas-fired power plants to be built in the future, will operate on gas imported from Azerbaijan, this will significantly strengthen Azerbaijan’s position in both the Balkans and Europe. As is known, Serbia is an important partner of Azerbaijan in the Balkans, and Azerbaijan currently exports gas to 16 countries, 13 of which are in Europe. As a result of Russia’s withdrawal from the European market and the tensions in the Middle East, Azerbaijan is becoming a reliable gas supplier to Europe, and the number of these countries is increasing year by year. Against the background of all this, Serbia’s importance for Azerbaijan is increasing.

The Nis power plant also points to a broader shift in Azerbaijan’s approach to the European market. Europe, increasingly viewed by Baku as a premium and strategically important market, is no longer simply a destination for Azerbaijani exports. Instead, Azerbaijan is seeking to build longer-term commercial relationships by moving further into European energy infrastructure and creating investments that can anchor its presence in the region for decades.

That strategy is particularly visible in SOCAR’s expansion beyond the traditional gas-supply business. The company has been developing power-generation assets for years, including the Central Anatolia Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plant in Trkiye and the Petkim RES project, while energy infrastructure in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories has also become an important part of the country’s expanding generation portfolio. The Nis project therefore represents less of a departure than the next step in an existing strategy, which means Azerbaijan is increasingly seeking to capture value by participating directly in the infrastructure that produces and distributes it.

If completed as planned, the Nis plant would mark SOCAR’s first power-generation project in Europe and could provide a template for further expansion. The significance of the project, therefore, extends beyond its 500-megawatt capacity or its pound 600 million price tag. It could serve as an entry point for SOCAR into Europe’s power-generation market, creating opportunities for similar investments in other countries and reinforcing Azerbaijan’s ambitions to become a longer-term energy partner rather than simply another supplier to the continent.

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen stated on Friday that Russia had informed Helsinki of a loose drone discovered in the city of Porvoo.

Speaking to reporters at the parliament building, Hakkanen said that the alert was received a few days before the drone was found. He added that the drone in question is primarily used by civilians, but noted that “the investigation is ongoing.”

Earlier in the day, the Finnish Border Guard said that the drone was a Russian-made Geoscan 701.

After nearly three decades of conflict, Azerbaijan and Armenia are witnessing developments that would have been difficult to imagine only a few years ago. For some time now, weapons have effectively fallen silent between the two countries, while contacts between NGOs and limited exchanges involving officials have gradually increased.

Against this backdrop, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently announced that the first product from Armenia had been exported to Azerbaijan. He did not specify what the product was or which companies were involved, however, the announcement is important as limited commercial relations between the two countries have already begun, with Azerbaijani fuel becoming the first known product exported to Armenia. The emergence of an Armenian export to Azerbaijan suggests that trade may now be developing in both directions.

If a lasting peace is to be established, economic ties could play an important role in building mutual confidence. Businesses that develop customers, suppliers and investments across borders have a direct interest in stability.

However, the harder question is which Armenian products could actually compete in the Azerbaijani market.

Agriculture, processed food, textiles, construction materials and beverages are among Armenia’s established sectors, and some of these areas may even face significant competitive pressure in Azerbaijan.

Since independence, Azerbaijan has developed substantial agricultural and food-processing capacity. Agriculture remains an important part of the non-oil economy. In contrast, agricultural and agro-industrial exports reached around $1.3 billion in 2025. Besides, Azerbaijan has also developed established supply chains for fruit, vegetables and processed food.

This makes it difficult to imagine Armenian producers rapidly gaining a large share of the Azerbaijani market in conventional agricultural products.

Azerbaijan’s oil-driven economic expansion produced a major construction boom and helped develop domestic production of cement, concrete, metal products and other materials. Armenian producers would therefore face a market with considerable local capacity.

Moreover, Armenia has a garment industry, but much of its production is concentrated in clothing and sewing rather than large-scale textile manufacturing. In Azerbaijan, Armenian products would also have to compete with well-established Turkish brands and suppliers. Given Turkiye’s dominant position in the regional textile industry, this would not be an easy market to enter. Armenia may therefore have better opportunities in more specialised products.

One obvious candidate is brandy and other alcoholic beverages. Armenian brandy has an established international reputation, and beverages, spirits and vinegar accounted for roughly $435 million of Armenia’s exports in 2025.

Another possibility is jewellery and precious-metal products, which Armenia has developed up to the level of a jewellery-processing industry. However, its exceptionally large precious-metal export figures should be treated cautiously because a significant portion of recent flows has involved re-export and processing rather than purely domestic production.

Furthermore, Armenia has a mining and metallurgical base, although the feasibility of exports to Azerbaijan would depend on prices, processing levels and demand. So, it means that Armenian exports to Azerbaijan are unlikely to be dominated by products in which Azerbaijan already has strong domestic production. The more realistic opportunities may lie in specialised products where Armenia has an established comparative advantage.

Meanwhile, it would be unrealistic to expect bilateral trade to reach billions of dollars in the short term. Azerbaijan already has extensive commercial relations with major regional economies. In 2025, Russia, Trkiye, Georgia, Switzerland and Ukraine were among the leading destinations for Azerbaijan’s non-oil exports, with total non-oil and gas exports reaching approximately $3.6 billion.

Armenia could eventually become another regional trading partner, but this will take time. To accelerate this, companies will need to establish distribution networks, build commercial relationships and, most importantly, develop confidence in the stability of cross-border trade.

The much bigger economic dividend

The economic benefits of peace extend far beyond bilateral trade. The conflict displaced more than one million people and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It also left large areas of land, including agricultural territory, inaccessible or underused for decades.

For Azerbaijan, the economic consequences were particularly significant as large-scale resources were directed toward defence and managing the consequences of the conflict. Those resources were necessary from the perspective of national security, but in a lasting peace environment, a greater share of capital can instead be directed toward infrastructure, investment, employment and development.

Azerbaijan now enters this new period from a considerably stronger economic position than it did in the early years of independence. It has developed major transport infrastructure, energy capacity and a growing non-oil economy. Certainly, peace with Armenia could further strengthen Azerbaijan’s role as a regional transport and trade hub.

For Armenia, meanwhile, an open border with Azerbaijan could provide access to a neighbouring market of more than 10 million people and potentially improve its connectivity with the wider region. Of course, given the hard times that were experienced in the past, the economic relationship will probably begin modestly. But trade does not have to reach billions of dollars to become politically meaningful. The first shipment matters because it represents something that was largely absent for decades: two countries that once fought each other beginning to do business with each other.

Indeed, after decades of conflict, that would be a welcome development not only for Azerbaijan and Armenia, but for the wider South Caucasus.

The issue of the Russian 102nd Military Base in Armenia was not discussed during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

“There were no discussions about the military base. We have never raised this issue during this period. It is not the case that we consider the presence of the 102nd Military Base in Armenia a vital necessity,” Pashinyan noted during a briefing with journalists.

According to him, Armenia would not object if Russia decided to withdraw the base from the country.

“If Russia decides to withdraw the base from Armenia, we will not object. If they express a desire to remain, we are also ready to discuss that. But we have never raised this issue,” Pashinyan added.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in turn, said that Russia would leave Armenia “as early as tomorrow” if Yerevan decides that the military infrastructure is no longer needed.

“We are not going to impose anything on anyone. If the Armenian people want there to be some kind of Russian military presence nearby, we will stay, work and cooperate,” Putin emphasized at a press conference in Bishkek.

The 102nd Russian Military Base has been stationed in Gyumri, northern Armenia, since 1995.