Category: Azer News

The global economic architecture in 2026 continues to present a complex web of logistical rewiring and volatile commodity flows. In Azerbaijan’s case, a pivotal energy and transit nexus bridging Eurasia, the primary trade indicators for the January-July period offer a fascinating lens into how small, strategic economies adapt to macro-level disruption.

Azerbaijan’s total foreign trade turnover reached $29.22 billion over the first seven months of the year, registering a modest 1.3% growth year-over-year.

Partner Turnover (Jan-Jul 2026) Share Y/Y change

Italy $7,294.1 mln 24.97% -2.7%

United Kingdom

$3,653.1 mln 12.50% ×4.1

Trkiye $3,280.0 mln 11.23% -3.1%

China $2,610.0 mln ~8.9% +4.3%

Russia $2,109.8 mln ~7.2% -31.3%

Georgia $668.5 mln ~2.3% +43.8%

Germany $633.1 mln ~2.2% -28.8%

Czech Republic $599.1 mln ~2.1% +1.0%

Romania $583.0 mln ~2.0% +38.1%

Bulgaria $563.3 mln ~1.9% +21.5%

Italy remains the anchor tenant – a quarter of everything Azerbaijan trades still runs through the Trieste terminal and the gas pipeline that ends in Puglia. But Italy’s mild contraction, set against a British quadrupling, tells us that the centre of gravity is shifting in ways that have little to do with volumes pumped.

The Russian number is the one that deserves another look. A 31.3% decline to $2.1 billion is the sharpest fall among Azerbaijan’s major partners, and it comes at a moment when the country’s Southeastern European trade – Romania up 38.1%, Bulgaria up 21.5%, Georgia up 43.8% – is expanding briskly. Some experts call this diversification or drift, the vector is unmistakable. Thus, goods and money are moving west and south along the Middle Corridor while the northern route thins. Baku’s European trade is not growing as a bloc. It is growing along the pipeline-and-corridor axis and shrinking where the relationship rests on machinery imports and industrial capital goods.

Beyond the major economic powerhouses, looking closer at the EU shows some interesting activity in smaller markets. Deliveries to several European countries saw a noticeable jump over the same period:

Destination Exports (2026) Absolute increase Multiple

Spain $30.35 mln +$24.28 mln ×5.0

Luxembourg $20.25 mln +$20.19 mln ×338.9

Malta $13.84 mln +$10.13 mln ×3.7

Total $64.44 mln +$54.60 mln ×6.6

The European Union is Azerbaijan’s largest trading partner, playing a central role in the country’s external economic relations. It is also Azerbaijan’s primary export destination and one of its most significant sources of imports. This trade structure is largely driven by energy exports, particularly oil and gas, which constitute a major share of Azerbaijan’s export revenues. The EU’s role as a key economic partner has also contributed to Azerbaijan’s efforts to diversify its economy, attract foreign investment, and develop non-oil sectors. European companies have been actively involved in infrastructure, transport, and energy projects within Azerbaijan.

Earlier this year, European Council President António Costa said that the European Union considers Azerbaijan a key partner, particularly when it comes to energy security. He stressed that cooperation between the two sides also extends to transport, digital development and security, while Brussels and Baku are working on a new framework to further deepen their partnership.

It is also worth noting that the development of the Middle Corridor is creating new opportunities for trade between Europe and Asia. The completion of the Baku-Nakhchivan railway could become another important link in this emerging transport network, further strengthening Azerbaijan’s role as a bridge between the two regions.

The country’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, combined with its access to the Caspian Sea and developing transport infrastructure, gives it a geographic advantage that can support long-term economic ties with European countries. With conflicts continuing to affect both the northern and southern approaches to the country – Russia’s war against Ukraine and instability in the Middle East – traditional Eurasian transport routes are being reshaped. This has elevated the importance of the Trans-Caspian or Middle Corridor, which connects Central Asian markets with Europe through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Trkiye. For European countries, the route offers an alternative to transit networks that depend on Russian or Iranian territory, making it increasingly relevant from both an economic and strategic perspective.

For Azerbaijan, the challenge is to broaden the basket of goods it sells. Petrochemicals, fertilisers, aluminium, agricultural products, processed food, textiles and selected industrial goods could all play a larger role if producers bring their products close to EU standards and compete on price, quality and delivery.

The EU market is attractive, but it is not low-hanging fruit. Exporters should navigate strict rules on product safety, certification, traceability, environmental performance and packaging. Azerbaijan’s long-running WTO accession process and the absence of a preferential trade regime with the EU also affect market access. The current EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement has been in force since 1999 and removes trade quotas, but it does not provide tariff preferences. Negotiations on a broader agreement began in 2017, although the trade talks have been on hold since February 2022.

Baku is now supplying natural gas to 10 EU member states, with Germany and Austria joining the list under new supply arrangements that took effect in early 2026. Against the backdrop of the war in Iran, disruption around the Strait of Hormuz and growing volatility in global energy markets, the importance of alternative and reliable suppliers has only increased.

There are signs that the economic agenda may gradually move beyond fossil fuels. Cooperation increasingly covers energy efficiency, renewable power and regional connectivity. In March 2024, the EU facilitated a memorandum on wind-energy cooperation between Azerbaijan’s renewable-energy agency and WindEurope. If such kind of initiative lead to investment and technology transfer, they could lay the groundwork for a more balanced relationship.

Azerbaijan’s potential participation in the EU Common Transit Convention could further strengthen this connection. The framework simplifies customs procedures and facilitates the movement of goods across participating countries. If Azerbaijan joins, the South Caucasus could become more closely integrated into Europe’s wider transport and trade system, creating a continuous commercial link between Central Asia and European markets.

A number of Israeli soldiers reportedly refused to carry out an ‘urgent’ military mission inside the Gaza Strip after a female medic was assigned to their unit, Israeli media reported.

According to The Jerusalem Post, the incident occurred as the Israeli military prepares pilot programmes aimed at expanding the roles available to women in combat units.

Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported that the soldiers belong to the Givati Brigade and serve through the Hesder yeshiva programme, which combines religious studies with military service.

The soldiers were reportedly ordered to enter Gaza in a Namer armoured personnel carrier alongside a female medic. However, they refused to participate in the mission because of her presence.

The Israeli military said the mission was considered urgent and was expected to take approximately two hours. It stressed that the soldiers were not expected to spend an extended period inside the Namer vehicle.

According to the military, the Givati Brigade’s rabbi had approved the soldiers carrying out the mission together with the female soldier. The soldiers nevertheless sought guidance from rabbis outside the military.

A military source told Kan that the company commander spoke directly with the soldiers and explained the importance of carrying out the mission, but they continued to refuse.

The incident comes amid an ongoing debate within Israel over the role of women in the military, particularly as the Israel Defense Forces considers expanding opportunities for female soldiers in combat positions.

The case also highlights tensions between the military’s operational requirements and the religious restrictions observed by some soldiers serving through Israel’s religious military-service frameworks.

The highest rate of filled university admission places for the 2026/2027 academic year was recorded in Group III.

Azerbaijan’s State Examination Center (SEC) reported that some 99.84 percent of the available places in Group III were filled. All places in the TC sub-group were also filled, leaving no vacancies.

The SEC said the ratio between the number of applicants and available places had indicated strong competition in Group III. As a result, sub-bachelor graduates were expected to have fewer opportunities for admission in this group. Following the competition, only applicants who took the entrance examination were admitted to Group III programmes.

Group II recorded the second-highest rate, with 97.52 percent of available places filled. Sub-bachelor graduates also had opportunities to enter universities through this group. A total of 2,319 sub-bachelors gained admission to Group II programmes, the highest figure among all five groups.

In Group I, 96.64 percent of places were filled, with 1,197 sub-bachelor graduates admitted.

The occupancy rate stood at 91.91 percent in Group IV and 93.71 percent in Group V. A total of 627 sub-bachelors were admitted through Group IV, while 72 entered universities through Group V.

Overall, the figures show that Group III was the most competitive category for university admission in Azerbaijan for the 2026/2027 academic year, while Group II provided the largest number of admission opportunities for sub-bachelor graduates.

Azerbaijan exported more than 13,700 tons of cotton yarn worth $30.9 million in January-July 2026, according to statistics on the country’s non-oil exports.

The State Customs Committee reported that the value of cotton yarn exports increased 1.8 times year-on-year, while export volumes rose 1.9 times compared with the corresponding period of 2025.

The latest figures represent a notable acceleration compared with the previous two full years. According to Azerbaijan’s State Statistical Committee, the country exported 11,187.2 tons of cotton yarn worth $31.29 million in 2023. In 2024, exports increased in physical terms to 11,548.2 tons, while their value declined to $28.55 million.

Thus, between 2023 and 2024, the volume of cotton yarn exports increased by approximately 3.2%, while export earnings fell by around 8.7%. The State Statistical Committee separately reported that cotton yarn exports by volume increased by 3.2% in 2024.

Data for January-November 2024 also showed that Azerbaijan exported 10,918 tons of cotton yarn worth approximately $27 million, with Trkiye and Russia accounting for the overwhelming majority of shipments.

The strong performance recorded in the first seven months of 2026 is therefore particularly significant: the $30.9 million generated from cotton yarn exports in just seven months has already exceeded the full-year export value recorded in 2024.

Cotton yarn accounted for approximately 1.38% of Azerbaijan’s total non-oil exports during January-July 2026.

Overall, Azerbaijan exported more than $2.239 billion worth of non-oil products during the first seven months of 2026, marking a 20.3% increase compared with the corresponding period of 2025.

Russia has stepped up pressure on Armenia over its growing ties with the European Union, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arguing that Yerevan cannot indefinitely avoid choosing between the EU and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.

Lavrov said the issue had become urgent after Armenia adopted legislation to begin the process of joining the European Union. Moscow, he argued, needs to know where Armenia ultimately intends to stand because the rules governing the two blocs are incompatible.

The Russian foreign minister pointed to calls from the Eurasian Economic Union for Armenia to hold a referendum on whether it wants to remain in the Russian-led bloc or move towards the European Union.

‘The issue is urgent,’ Lavrov said, arguing that Armenia’s existing EAEU membership cannot simply coexist indefinitely with a process aimed at EU accession. He stressed that Moscow was not questioning the Armenian people’s right to decide, but wanted that choice to be made clear.

The remarks add another layer to an increasingly strained relationship between Moscow and Yerevan.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly rejected calls for an immediate referendum. His position is that Armenia will make the choice when the two integration tracks become incompatible, rather than holding a vote before the country’s potential EU accession has taken a concrete form.

That argument has done little to ease tensions with Moscow.

Russia sees Armenia’s continued membership of the EAEU alongside an increasingly formal EU accession process as an emerging contradiction. Pashinyan’s government, however, has insisted that Armenia is not currently leaving the EAEU and that any eventual decision will be made by Armenian citizens.

The dispute is therefore no longer simply about Armenia’s relationship with Brussels. It is becoming a direct test of how far Yerevan can move towards the EU while retaining its place in Russia’s economic orbit.

Lavrov’s intervention comes against the backdrop of a broader deterioration in Russia-Armenia relations. Moscow has repeatedly warned that closer Armenian integration with European institutions could undermine existing ties with Russia and the wider Eurasian integration system. Earlier in May, Lavrov also criticised Pashinyan’s absence from an upcoming EAEU summit, describing it as regrettable and arguing that the meeting would have provided an opportunity to address growing disagreements.

For Pashinyan, the dilemma is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. His government wants to deepen relations with the EU while avoiding an immediate rupture with Moscow. Russia, meanwhile, is demanding greater clarity over Armenia’s strategic direction.

The result is a widening political gap between the two countries.

Pashinyan says Armenia will decide when the moment comes. Lavrov’s message is that the moment may already have arrived.

The dispute over a referendum has therefore become a proxy for a much larger question: how long can Armenia pursue European integration while remaining inside Russia’s economic bloc?

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that a return to negotiations with the United States remains possible, but only if Washington abandons its policy of pressure against Tehran.

‘It is entirely possible to return diplomacy to a constructive path. For this, the United States must understand a simple truth: pressure does not work,’ Araghchi wrote on the social media platform X.

The Iranian foreign minister called on the US administration to conduct dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect, recognize Iran’s rights and honor its commitments.

Araghchi’s remarks come after US President Donald Trump said earlier that his administration was currently not interested in consultations or meetings with the Iranian authorities.

The latest statements highlight the continuing gap between Washington and Tehran over the conditions for resuming diplomatic engagement, with Iran insisting that pressure must be lifted while the US has signaled limited interest in talks with the current Iranian leadership.

Poland’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Pavel Radomski, has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

The MFA Press Service Department confirms that during the meeting, Azerbaijan expressed strong protest over the inclusion of biased, non-objective, and completely unacceptable claims directed against the Azerbaijani state and its leadership in a report broadcast on 26 August by TVP World, the public broadcaster of Poland, as part of its ‘Eastern Express’ programme. Strong concern was also expressed over the presenter’s provocative conduct during the programme. In this regard, a note of protest was handed to the Polish side.

It was emphasised that, at a time when the normalisation and peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia is advancing, and Azerbaijan is making determined efforts to ensure lasting peace, stability and Armenia’s break with Moscow looks more like negotiation than divorcethe Azerbaijani side.

The broadcasting of negative content targeting Azerbaijan by a public broadcaster funded by the Polish government was described as an unfriendly act that runs counter to the spirit of partnership between the two countries and has the potential to seriously damage bilateral relations.

The Polish side was urged to take immediate and effective measures to put an end to such provocative campaigns targeting Azerbaijan.

By the end of 2025, the number of billionaires worldwide had reached a record 3,795 people, while their combined wealth rose to an unprecedented $15.1 trillion.

‘In 2025, the number of billionaires worldwide reached a historic high of 3,795 people. The 8.2% increase was the strongest in the past five years, as rising stock markets, monetary incentives, and the investment boom in artificial intelligence fueled the rapid growth of wealth among the world’s richest people,’ the authors of the report said.

During the year, 287 new people joined the billionaire club. Over the past decade, the number of billionaires has increased by almost 60%, highlighting the rapid growth of private wealth around the world.

At the same time, the combined wealth of billionaires reached a record $15.1 trillion in 2025, representing a 12.8% increase compared with 2024. According to the report’s authors, this amount is equivalent to nearly a quarter of the total market capitalization of the SandP 500 index.

The average billionaire currently has a fortune of around $4 billion. However, the median wealth is much lower, at approximately $2 billion. This difference reflects the highly uneven distribution of wealth within the billionaire group, where a relatively small number of extremely wealthy individuals account for a significant share of the total.

The report identifies 29 people as ‘super-billionaires,’ each with an estimated net worth of more than $50 billion. Despite representing less than 1% of all billionaires, this small group controls around 27% of the total wealth of all billionaires, compared with just 7% in 2017.

The growing concentration of wealth among the world’s richest individuals is particularly notable. While the overall number of billionaires continues to rise, an increasingly large share of their combined fortune is concentrated in the hands of a very small group at the top.

One interesting factor behind the latest surge in billionaire wealth is the AI boom. The rapid growth of companies involved in artificial intelligence has significantly increased the value of technology stocks and created enormous gains for some of their founders and investors. As AI continues to attract record levels of investment, the technology sector is likely to remain one of the key drivers of global wealth creation in the coming years.

Autumn is a magical time of year, filled with magnificent natural beauty. It’s a perfect season to enjoy so many outdoor activities, including apple picking, hiking, outdoor festivals, and other things.

The arrival of autumn means that nature will soon put on a breathtaking show. Trees explode into beautiful hues of gold, red, and orange. It’s a wonderful time to start curling up with hot drinks, a cosy blanket, and a good book.

Autumn is perfect for a trip in nature. Spectacular landscapes await us in every corner of Azerbaijan. The country offers its visitors pristine nature and many wonderful places to enjoy this special time of year.

Cooler temperatures, beautiful nature and stunning foliage are all top reasons to visit the Ganja region.

Located some four hours away from the capital of Baku, Goygol National Park is the adornment of the region.

Goygol National Park, being one of the pearls of Azerbaijani nature, has always attracted attention for its spectacular nature.

The special beauty of the park is attached to the lakes located here, one of which is Goygol.

Goygol can be enjoyed for the whole year around but the best time is definitely autumn.

A large mountain lake surrounded by the mountains of the Lesser Caucasus was formed as a result of a devastating earthquake that destroyed the Kapaz Mountain in the 12th century.

The color and clarity of the waters of Goygol Lake, located 1,600 meters above sea level, are striking. The banks of the lake are covered with forests and rich with flora and fauna.

Here you can enjoy the beauty of fallen leaves and crystal-clear air.

This area is ideal for walking, traveling, and family picnics.

Yardimli mesmerizes viewers with its colorful nature, rivers, springs and a lot of historical monuments. The region bursts into colors with the arrival of the autumn season.

A vast part of the region’s territory is covered by forests. The region has rich fauna. There are wolves, jackals, boar, bears, and some other kinds of animals here.

The crisp temperatures, spectacular foliage and abundant wildlife in Yardimli won’t leave anyone indifferent.

Don’t miss a chance to hunt this beautiful scenery.

Shirvan National Park is worth the trip for nature lovers. Established in 2003, it was created with a view to the conservation of the foremost components of a semi-desert landscape, the protection of goitred gazelles listed in the “Red Data Book” of Azerbaijan and species of fauna that are typical to this territory. Its functions also include the implementation of environmental monitoring, public environmental education, as well as creating conditions for tourism and recreation.

Spend a day strolling around Shirvan National Park and enjoy the nature in all its autumn glory.

The park provides habitat for many animals. A chain of hills is the main terrain that developed as a result of the wind’s work and serves as an excellent refuge and shelter for gazelles.

The gazelle is considered lesser spread species in the world among mammalian fauna. In this regard, it exists mostly in Azerbaijan, Front, Middle and Central Asia. The territory of Azerbaijan is considered the main habitat area of gazelles.

If you’re looking to take in some of the most amazing sights of the season, then visit the country’s northwestern Gakh region.

Gakh have a stunning array of beautiful fall colors, ranging from vibrant oranges and reds to rich yellows.

A small, stone-built village of Ilisu, located at the northwest tip of Azerbaijan in the Gakh region, is a great place to visit at any time of year.

Favorable natural conditions make the place a perfect destination for mountain climbing and hiking, fishing and hunting. You can also take a tour of the neighborhoods on horseback.

The area has numerous historical monuments and is known for thermal waters and wonderful waterfalls.

Guba is a treasure for lovers of picking berries and mushrooms.

During the whole year you can harvest berries, which is enough for the whole year and protect against various diseases. Among them are briar, hawthorn and medlar, which the locals call Ezgil.

Apple orchards can be wonderful places to visit in autumn.

Guba country has always been known as the region where the best apples of the country are grown.

Traditional Apple Festival is celebrated annually in Guba every October.

The farmers and gardeners present their best apples, including palmet, semekinka, fudji, gizilehmed, which also participle in various competitions, such as the biggest apple or the most delicious apple.

At the same time, music and dance groups prepare interesting shows to demonstrate beautiful samples of the national traditions and music.

Fall is pomegranate season. The history of Azerbaijan is inseparably connected with cultivating pomegranates, extending deep into the centuries. Pomegranate is the national symbol of Azerbaijan, that’s why a special holiday is held every autumn devoted to this king of fruits.

Pomegranate holiday is traditionally held every year in Goychay region since 2006. All 55 species of Azerbaijani pomegranate can be found in Goychay.

In the surrounding forests you can meet boar, raccoon, jackal, pheasant, wolf, fox, rabbit, sparrow, crown, gluttonous mountain dove spread.

The region’s beautiful landscapes and bright fall colors make it a must-visit place.

The Jafar Jabbarli Republican Youth Library has prepared a presentation titled “A Creative Journey from the Press to the Silver Screen” and a bibliographic review titled “A Master Who Valued the Wisdom of Words.”

The materials were prepared to mark the 105th anniversary of the birth of Seyfaddin Dagli, a prominent representative of Azerbaijani literature, Honored Art Worker, writer, playwright, journalist and publicist.

The materials were prepared to bring the writer’s literary heritage to a wider audience, promote his works, and enable young readers in particular to become more familiar with the work of prominent representatives of Azerbaijani literature.

The presentation provides extensive information about Seyfaddin Dagli’s life and creative journey, literary activities, contributions to journalism, main areas of his creative work, his works and his place in Azerbaijani literature. The presentation, published on the library’s official website, was created using artificial intelligence technologies, allowing Seyfaddin Dagli’s rich creative heritage to be presented to the younger generation in a more modern, engaging and visual format.

The bibliographic review titled “A Master Who Valued the Wisdom of Words” contains information about playwright Seyfaddin Dagli’s meaningful life and multifaceted creative work, the full texts of official documents, and valuable remarks made by prominent figures about the writer.

The material also presents the full texts of articles including “A Master Who Valued the Wisdom of Words” by Honored Journalist Gafar Asgarzade, “A Masterful and Courageous Artist” by Honored Journalist Flora Khalilzada, “Seyfaddin Dagli – a Figure Distinguished by His Physio-Ideological Image, Personality and Sense of Belonging to Himself (and Everyone) …” by writer and publicist Tahir Abbasli, and “Whatever He Wrote, He Wrote the Truth” by journalist Zohra Farajova.

The resource also includes a bibliographic review of books authored by Seyfaddin Dagli, as well as a list of periodical press materials.

The bibliographic review has been published on the library’s official website.