Category: Azer News

The draft law on amending the “Law on Cinematography” has been approved in its third reading, AzerNEWS reports.

The draft was included on the agenda of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan session held on February 27.

The amendments aim to modernize the legal framework for film production in Azerbaijan in line with international best practices, clarify key concepts, expand institutional mechanisms for state support, and enhance the investment attractiveness of the country’s cinema industry.

The draft introduces more precise definitions within the sector. Notably, the law will now explicitly define terms such as “national film,” “foreign film,” “co-production film,” film production,’ and the stages of film production (preparation, shooting, post-production).

The draft also distinguishes between “local producer” and “foreign producer.” These changes clarify the legal status of entities, ensure greater transparency in applying state support and incentive mechanisms, and replace the term “jointly shot film” with “co-produced film” to align Azerbaijani legislation with international legal terminology, improving the language and style of the legal text.

Amendments to Article 3 establish the involvement of foreign producers in film production in Azerbaijan as a distinct component of state policy. This measure facilitates the country’s integration into the international film market and promotes cultural diplomacy.

Provisions added to Article 13 allow partial reimbursement of expenses for foreign and co-produced films in accordance with the Rules. This mechanism, successfully applied in many countries, encourages foreign investment, develops the local service sector, and creates new jobs.

The proposed changes aim to strengthen the legal framework for cinematography in Azerbaijan. They are expected to increase the number of international and co-production projects, attract foreign funding to the national film industry, promote Azerbaijan’s cultural and creative potential on the global stage, and expand cooperation opportunities between the public and private sectors.

The 125th anniversary of the birth of People’s Writer Ali Valiyev has been widely celebrated in Azerbaijan, honoring one of the nation’s most influential literary figures, AzerNEWS reports.

National Library has organized special exhibitions to mark the anniversary of the prominent writer, who left a distinctive mark on the development of 20th-century Azerbaijani prose.

The virtual exhibition is titled “Prominent Writer, People’s Writer Ali Valiyev.” In addition, the library has presented the traditional book exhibition “People’s Writer Ali Valiyev – 125” to its visitors.

The exhibitions feature the writer’s short stories, novellas, novels, essays, fairy tales, and legends, as well as books he edited or wrote prefaces for.

They also demonstrate materials on his life and creative work, memories of prominent figures about him, photographs, and press publications.

Those interested in exploring the virtual exhibition can visit the following link:

Ali Valiyev (1901 – 1983) was a prominent Azerbaijani prose writer, journalist, and cultural figure, whose work played a great role in the Azerbaijani literature.

Valiyev began his literary career while studying at the Baku Central Party School, contributing as an active worker-peasant correspondent to newspapers such as “Kommunist”, “K?ndli”, “G?nc Isçi” and and “Yeni Fikir”.

His early stories were also published in journals including “Inqilab v? M?d?niyy?t”, “Hcum”, “?d?biyyat C?bh?sind?”, establishing him as a notable voice in Soviet Azerbaijani literature.

In 1930, he published his first books, “The Journey of God” and “My Grandmother’s Wrath.” Between 1937 and 1941, he continued to produce significant works such as “Snowy Mountains,” “The Hero,” “The Decorated Shepherd,” and “Proof”.

During the Great Patriotic War (1941-1942), Valiyev served as a writer-journalist on the frontlines, documenting the heroism of soldiers and civilians in his collection “Frontline Stories”.

After the war, he published notable works including the novellas “Gulshan” and “The Spoiled One”, and the novel “The Flowered”, which earned him the prestigious M.F. Akhundov Prize in 1958. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he held editorial positions at “Kommunist” newspaper, the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union, and “Azerbaijan” journal.

The writer continued to expand his literary repertoire with historical and contemporary novels, short stories, essays, and children’s literature. Among his significant later works are “Madar’s Epic,” “Friends of the Heart,” “Memories of Budag,” “The Road to Turajli”, and the collections “Gifts for Children” and “A Pair of Stars”. His writings were published in Azerbaijani, Russian, and Ukrainian, reflecting both local and broader Soviet literary currents.

Beyond writing, Ali Valiyev was actively engaged in cultural administration, serving as executive secretary of the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union and editing leading literary journals.

His editorial and organizational work significantly influenced Azerbaijani literature, nurturing younger writers and promoting national literary traditions.

A regional seminar on UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Sustainability has been held in Tirana, Albania, with the participation of representatives from UEFA member associations, AzerNEWS reports.

Officials from the Licensing and Registration Department of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) attended the seminar, including Department Head Seymur Salimli, Chief Licensing Specialist Aynur Abdullayeva, and Senior Specialist Narmin Sidaliyeva.

The seminar covered key topics such as UEFA’s multi-club ownership requirements and their implementation, the European football environment, local financial monitoring, legal group structures and reporting perimeters, the UEFA solidarity mechanism, and the club licensing process.

Formed in 1992, the Azerbaijan Association of Football Federations (AFFA) is the governing body of football in Azerbaijan.

The Association is responsible for overseeing all aspects of amateur and professional games in its territory.

It runs numerous competitions, the most famous of which is the Azerbaijan Cup. AFFA is a member of both UEFA and FIFA.

The extended squad of the Azerbaijan men’s national basketball team has been announced for the preliminary qualification round of the “EuroBasket 2029”, where they will face Ireland and North Macedonia, AzerNEWS reports.

Head coach Tahir Bakhshiyev has invited 15 players to the training camp. The players called up are Amil Hamzayev, Akbar Mammadov (both Neftchi PFK), Emmanuel Agbason, Endar Poladkhanli, Shirzad Shirzadov, Kamran Mammadov (all Sabah BK), Ulash Turgut, Jabrayil Akbarov (both Ganja BK), Elshad Shirzadov (Ordu BK), Wesley Van Beck (CB Tenerife, Spain), Derin Berkoz (NTD), Rashid Abbasov, Erjan Donat (both Shaki BK), Ismayil Abdullayev and Saadettin Donat (both Absheron Lions BK).

Although Akbar Mammadov and Ismayil Abdullayev were initially included in the extended squad, they were unable to continue the training camp due to injuries.

The Azerbaijan national team will face Ireland on February 27 and North Macedonia on March 2.

EuroBasket 2029 will mark the 43rd edition of the EuroBasket tournament, the men’s continental championship held every four years and organized by FIBA Europe.

As with the previous four editions, the competition will be jointly hosted by several nations, with Estonia, Greece, Slovenia, and Spain and is scheduled to take place in the summer of 2029.

Note that Germany is entering the tournament as the reigning champions.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a phone call to President of the Republic of Trkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan on February 26, AzerNEWS reports.

The head of state congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his birthday, wishing him long life, good health, and success in his future activities.

The President of Trkiye expressed his gratitude for the attention and congratulations shown.

During the telephone conversation, the heads of state exchanged views on future contacts.

From February 28 to March 1, young Azerbaijani judokas will take part in the Mostoles Junior European Cup 2026, Spain, AzerNEWS reports.

The competition, organized by the European Judo Union, will see Azerbaijan represented by six athletes across three weight categories.

The Azerbaijani team will feature Chinara Sadigova, Farida Mirzayeva, Aysun Mammadova, and Nurana Hajizade (all competing in the 52 kg category), Vusala Hajiyeva (57 kg), and Nilgun Rzayeva (63 kg).

The national team will be led by Sasha Herkenrat-Vimar, head coach of the women’s national squad.

A total of 532 athletes from 23 countries are expected to compete in the tournament, making it a highly competitive event on the European judo calendar.

Founded in 1972, the Azerbaijan Judo Federation actively promotes this martial art worldwide.

The President of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation is Rashad Nabiyev, who also serves as the Minister of Digital Development and Transportation.

The country’s modern judo history was laid by Mehman Azizov, who won a silver medal at the Old World Championship in 1998.

A year later, the winner of the World Youth Games in Moscow, Rasul Salimov, grabbed the bronze medal at the European Championship in Slovakia. Another national judoka, Elchin Ismayilov, became the European champion in 2000 in Wroclaw.

However, the achievements of Azerbaijani judo fighters did not stop there. Elnur Mammadli was named the best at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 73 kg division.

The list of the country’s top judo fighters includes Rustam Orujov, Irina Kindzerskaya, Mammadali Mehdiyev, Elmar Gasimov, Hidayat Heydarov, Zelim Kotsoev, Ushangi Kokauri, and Nijat Shikhalizada.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has reaffirmed that life is returning to Karabakh, as the country marked the 34th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.

AzerNEWS reports that speaking to journalists during a visit to the Mother’s Cry Monument in Baku, Bayramov said that the reality today is fundamentally different from previous years, as Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

‘Over the past five years, while commemorating the victims of the Khojaly genocide, the Azerbaijani people have also remembered the liberation of their ancestral lands from occupation,’ he said. ‘Through large-scale reconstruction and restoration efforts, life is returning to Karabakh.’

Bayramov noted that massacres similar to Khojaly had taken place in other Azerbaijani settlements before 1992, describing them as part of a deliberate policy rooted in ethnic hatred. However, he emphasized that the Khojaly genocide remains the largest tragedy in Azerbaijan’s modern history in terms of scale. ‘The victims were entirely innocent civilians – women, children and the elderly,’ he stressed.

The foreign minister also underlined that Azerbaijan continues to pursue a peace agenda while advancing reconstruction in the formerly occupied territories. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, he said, Azerbaijan demonstrated determination both during the war and in the post-conflict period.

‘The whole world witnessed that Azerbaijan took full leadership in the peace process as well, with initiatives coming from our side,’ Bayramov stated. ‘Serious steps are being taken, and tangible results are visible. At the same time, we cannot forget our history. That is why today’s anniversary remains deeply significant.’

Responding to questions about the downing of an aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, Bayramov reiterated that Baku’s position is firm and unequivocal.

On December 25, an Embraer 190 aircraft operating flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau. Of the 67 people on board, 38 were killed and 29 survived. According to preliminary information, the crash occurred following physical and technical external interference in Russian airspace over Grozny.

Bayramov stated that during an October 2025 meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia, the issue was discussed and the Russian side pledged to take appropriate measures. ‘The downing of the aircraft occurred due to an error by the Russian Ministry of Defense,’ he said. ‘Our expectation is that all necessary steps will be taken, a proper legal assessment will be made, and compensation will be paid.’

The minister also addressed questions regarding the upcoming World Urban Forum 13, which will be jointly organized by Azerbaijan’s relevant institutions and UN-Habitat. The forum is scheduled to take place in Baku from May 17 to 22 and will include, for the first time, a leaders’ summit.

Bayramov said he had no information regarding an invitation to Armenia, noting that participation would follow the event’s established format and procedures. ‘Not all world leaders will take part. Invitations have been extended to countries where support is needed within the framework of the forum,’ he explained.

Commenting on the upcoming European Political Community Summit, to be held in Armenia in May, Bayramov said that representation in that format is limited strictly to heads of state and government. According to the information available to him, President Ilham Aliyev’s participation in the summit is not planned.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that “no one invited” Ukraine’s European allies to peace negotiations, which include Ukraine, Russia and the United States, AzerNEWS reports.

She claimed European states “cheated and deceived” and repeated the claim that the United Kingdom and France intend to supply Ukraine with nuclear weapons.

“So sit there under the table and keep your mouth shut,” she said at a press briefing.

Zakharova also alleged that Ukraine is blocking the supply of oil from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary, Slovakia and other central European states.

She added that the European Union “does not care about the problems of its member countries,” claiming that it failed to address the issue.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that Tehran is developing missiles capable of reaching the United States mainland, insisting that Iran’s missile program is purely defensive.

As reported by AzerNEWS, speaking in response to remarks made during Trump’s State of the Union address, Araghchi said the U.S. president had ‘become a victim of fake news.’

He stressed that Iran is not developing intercontinental-range missiles and that the country has ‘deliberately limited’ the range of its domestically produced missile systems to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles).

‘Our missiles are defensive in nature,’ Araghchi said. ‘They are built purely for deterrence and to help us defend ourselves.’

The foreign minister also referenced last June’s confrontation involving what he described as a U.S.-backed Israeli attack on Iran, saying Tehran’s actions at the time were carried out in self-defense.

‘We only defended ourselves,’ he said. ‘From their perspective, it may be considered an illegal act, but from our point of view, it was a legitimate act within the framework of self-defense.’

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have remained high amid ongoing disputes over Iran’s missile capabilities and regional security issues.

A century ago, the First Turkological Congress laid the foundation for modern studies of Turkic languages, culture, and heritage.

The Congress focused on standardizing languages, reforming the alphabet, and encouraging cultural exchange, guiding the study of Turkic peoples for years to come.

To mark this important centenary, Azerbaijan has undertaken a series of initiatives highlighting the Congress’s enduring influence on culture, education, and international collaboration among Turkic states, AzerNEWS reports.

Azerbaijan National Library has hosted a scientific conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress.

The event titled “The First Turkological Congress: A Historic Milestone in the Cultural, Scientific and Spiritual Integration of Turkic Peoples”, brought together prominent scholars, officials and public figures.

The conference was held in accordance with the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry’s Action Plan, following the decree of the President of Azerbaijan on celebrating the centennial of the First Turkological Congress.

Opening the event, Director of the National Library, Professor Karim Tahirov, noted that the anniversary program includes the publication of the Congress proceedings (stenographic records) as well as a fundamental bibliography dedicated to the landmark gathering.

Deputy Culture Minister Farid Jafarov stressed that the Ministry has approved a comprehensive action plan to implement the presidential decree.

Throughout the year, a series of initiatives will be carried out, including the preparation of publications marking the 100th anniversary, the production of documentary and feature films, and the organization of events both in Azerbaijan and abroad, particularly at the country’s cultural centers overseas, with the participation of leading scholars and intellectuals.

Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament and Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Culture, Gunay Afandiyeva described the First Turkological Congress as a pivotal moment in the history of Turkic peoples, a beginning, an effort and a leap forward for Turkism and the Turkic spirit.

She underlined that the establishment of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) at the initiative of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, as well as the creation of the Organization of Turkic States and TURKPA at the initiative of the President of Azerbaijan, alongside the founding of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, stand as vivid examples of the realization of ideas first voiced by intellectuals in Baku a century ago. She also highlighted ongoing efforts toward the formation of a common Turkic alphabet and the strengthening of cultural and literary unity among Turkic-speaking nations.

Addressing the conference via video link, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Professor Vilayat Guliyev, noted that the principal outcomes of the First Turkological Congress included the expansion of the transition to the Latin alphabet, the unification of terminology and orthography of Turkic languages, the strengthening of scientific cooperation, and the systematic study of Turkic cultures.

The event also featured the presentation of an electronic database titled “First Turkological Congress – 100” and a virtual exhibition prepared by the National Library’s staff.

Among the speakers were Director of the Ataturk Center in Azerbaijan, Academician Nizami Jafarov; Member of Parliament, Professor Jala Aliyeva; Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Academician Govhar Bakhshaliyeva; Director of the Institute of Manuscripts, Academician Teymur Karimov; Director of the Institute of Linguistics, Professor Nadir Mammadli; and Editor-in-Chief of “?d?biyyat q?zeti”, Azer Turan.

They spoke about the historical and scientific significance of the First Turkological Congress.

The conference concluded with a visit to a traditional book exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress.

Note that the First Turkological Congress, convened in Baku between February 26 and March 6, 1926, brought together 131 delegates representing the Turkic-speaking Soviet republics, Russia, and Turkiye.

The primary aim of the congress was to promote the systematic study of Turkic languages, history, and culture, placing special focus on the adoption of a common Latin-based alphabet.

Addressing the linguistic, cultural, and educational issues confronting Turkic communities, the gathering is regarded as a landmark event in the cultural history of the Turkic world, laying the foundations for modern Turkological scholarship.