Category: Azer News

Officials involved in a large-scale smuggling operation of medicines and tobacco products between Iran and Azerbaijan have been identified, according to a joint statement by the Prosecutor General’s Office and the State Customs Committee, Azernews reports.

The investigation revealed that Vusal Huseynov, an inspector of the Bilasuvar Customs Department, and Asif Hajimuradov, a cynologist at the ‘Azerterminalcomplex’ Association, colluded with Azerbaijani citizen Etibar Hatamli and Iranian citizen Jafar Rezeyan. Using their official positions, the group facilitated the illegal transfer of medicines not registered with the state – including those containing potent and psychotropic substances – as well as tobacco products without excise stamps. The total value of the smuggled goods amounted to 400,000 manats (about $235,000).

According to the authorities, the smuggled items were brought from Iran and handed over to relevant individuals inside Azerbaijan.

Based on the collected evidence, Huseynov, Hajimuradov, Hatamli and Rezeyan were charged under multiple articles of the Criminal Code, including illegal trafficking of large quantities of medicines and psychotropic substances, smuggling, illegal import of excise goods, and abuse of official authority leading to grave consequences.

By court decision, Huseynov, Hajimuradov and Hatamli were placed under arrest, while Rezeyan received a different preventive measure not related to detention.

The Prosecutor General’s Office and the State Customs Committee stressed that investigative and operational measures are continuing to fully uncover the scope of the smuggling network.

A ceremony was held to mark the installation of the first solar panel at the Bilasuvar Solar Power Plant, a major renewable energy project with a planned capacity of 445 megawatts, Azernews reports.

The event was attended by high-ranking officials, including Head of Bilasuvar District Executive Authority Faiq Qurbanov, Director of the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency (AREA) Javid Abdullayev, Deputy Chairman of ‘Azerenerji’ OJSC Rustam Gasimov, Chief Operating Officer of ‘Masdar’ Abdulaziz Alobaidli, and CEO of SOCAR Green Elmir Musayev. Each delivered opening remarks at the ceremony.

Following the speeches, VIP guests symbolically participated in the installation of the first panel and signed commemorative solar panels to mark the occasion.

Two specially designated commemorative panels were also showcased during the ceremony. These were signed by attending dignitaries and will remain on display as a symbolic representation of the project’s launch. Group photos were taken as part of the formal proceedings.

Officials from the Ministry of Energy and the Bilasuvar District Executive Authority were also present at the event.

The Bilasuvar Solar Power Plant spans a total area of 1,400 hectares. It will feature over 943,000 bifacial solar panels manufactured by China’s JA Solar, capable of generating electricity from both sides. The high-efficiency panels, each with a capacity of 625-630 watts, will be delivered and installed in stages.

The plant will be equipped with 8,131 single-axis tracking systems to optimize solar energy capture throughout the day. Once operational, panel cleaning will be performed automatically using specialized equipment.

The solar power plant is scheduled to be commissioned next year.

An international conference themed “The Role of Libraries in Preserving National and Spiritual Values” has been held as part of the 11th Baku International Book Fair, organized by Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and Azerbaijan National Library, Azernews reports. The event took place at Baku Expo Center.

The conference was opened by Professor Karim Tahirov, Director of the Azerbaijan National Library, who stated that the increasing interest in books in recent years is a matter of pride. He emphasized that libraries are not only a storage place for national and spiritual values but also play a crucial role in their reliable preservation and transmission to future generations.

The professor further noted that books and publications are key components of national and spiritual values. Therefore, it is important to increase attention to their protection and preservation. Libraries play a significant role in the implementation of this mission.

The Chairman of the Culture Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament, People’s Artist Polad Bulbuloglu, emphasized that books have always been preserved in Azerbaijan and various countries around the world.

He also pointed out the importance of international book fairs and stressed the need to increase young people’s interest in books. He stated that the primary goal is the preservation of books and the national and spiritual values.

Speakers at the conference included Ayhan Tuglu, Director of the Turkish National Library, Dr. Afet Abbasova, Director of the Presidential Library of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Doctor of Philology, Professor, Mohamed Adil Embarsh, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Azerbaijan, Associate Professor Alamdar Jabbarli, Dean of the Faculty of Information and Documentation Management at Baku State University, and Seham Alezam, Director of the Kuwait National Library.

The speakers highlighted that libraries are sacred places that unite the memory, knowledge, and culture of a nation and preserve books. They emphasized that the preservation of national and spiritual values reflects respect for our history, present, and future. The speeches particularly highlighted the attention and care given to libraries by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev. The importance of the Baku International Book Fair was also noted, as well as the need for establishing connections between libraries.

A video dedicated to the Azerbaijan National Library was also presented during the event. The conference continued with presentations.

Deputy Director of the Department of Scientific Work and Library-Information Services of the Azerbaijan National Library Edibe Ismailova, spoke on “The Activities of the National Library of Azerbaijan in the Preservation of Cultural Heritage,” Samira El Malizi, Director of the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco, presented “Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future: The Commitment of the National Library of Morocco,” Ayhan Tuglu, Director of the National Library of the Republic of Turkiye, gave a speech on “The Role of Libraries in the Protection of Cultural Heritage: The National Library of the Republic of Turkiye,” Dr. Afet Abbasova, Director of the Presidential Library of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, talked about “Libraries – Bridges that Lead Our Values into the Future,” Seham Alezam, Director of the Kuwait National Library, spoke on “From Heritage to the Future: The Role of the Kuwait National Library in the Cultural Field,” Dr. Huseyn Huseynov, Director of the Central Scientific Library of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, and Doctor of Technical Sciences, discussed “The Role of Libraries in the Preservation and Development of National and Spiritual Values,” Associate Professor Mubariz Mammadli, Director of the Republic Scientific-Technical Library under the State Agency for Intellectual Property of the Republic of Azerbaijan, presented “The Protection of Azerbaijan’s Scientific and Cultural Property at the Republic Scientific-Technical Library,” and Aygn Koçak, Head of the Department of Research in Library Science and Methodical Support at the Azerbaijan National Library, presented “Precious Istanbul Publications Preserved at the Azerbaijan National Library (Rare Works from the 18th-19th Centuries).”

Note that the 11th Baku International Book Fair will run until October 7 at the Baku Expo Center.

This year’s fair, themed “Technoman: yesterday’s legend, today’s event”, creates opportunities for broad discussions on the impact of technology on human life in the scientific and cultural context of the modern era.

The fair features participation from 41 foreign organizations from 18 countries and more than 100 local publishing, printing, and book-related institutions.

Throughout the fair, a variety of events are organized, including masterclasses for children and adults, book presentations on inclusion and other relevant topics, book signings, conferences, symposiums, contests, reading and music hours, and collaboration platforms for stakeholders in the book industry.

More than 250 events in various formats are being held over the course of the fair.

Prominent writers and scholars from countries such as Turkiye, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Qatar, and others will also take part.

Special shuttle buses will be available for visitors from the “Elml?r Akademiyasi,” “28 May,” and “Koroglu” metro stations to the Baku Expo Center. Admission to the fair is free of charge.

The construction sector in Azerbaijan brought in more than 328 million manat in revenue during the first half of the year, according to Read Qasimov, Head of the Baku City Main Department of Architecture and Urban Planning under the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture.

Azernews reports that Qasimov made these remarks during a public discussion organized by the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) on the topic: ‘Current Procedures, Time, and Costs for Obtaining Construction and Operation Permits – Challenges and Optimization Opportunities.’

He emphasized that the development of cities and the construction sector remains one of Azerbaijan’s strategic priorities:

‘Innovative approaches are being implemented to make business processes more transparent and accessible for entrepreneurs across various sectors,’ he added.

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has inaugurated another modern educational facility in the capital, this time in Baku’s Khazar district. The newly rebuilt school, Secondary School No. 324, was originally constructed in 2007 but had since fallen into disrepair and become unsuitable for use.

Due to overcrowding, the school had been operating in three shifts and lacked essential facilities such as workshops and laboratories. To address these shortcomings, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation launched large-scale reconstruction and renovation works in September 2024.

As part of the project, the number of classrooms was expanded and new specialized laboratories for physics, chemistry, and biology were established, alongside rooms for computer science, military training, and technology. The building was also equipped with a library, cafeteria, gymnasium, sports grounds, and an auditorium.

In addition, landscaping and greening works were carried out on the school grounds. The modernized school is now ready to welcome teachers and students in the new academic year.

On October 2, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in Copenhagen, Azernews reports.

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands congratulated the head of state on the results achieved in Washington regarding the advancement of the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing their significance.

President Ilham Aliyev, in turn, highlighted the importance of the Washington Declaration, signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, and the document on the normalization of relations between the two countries for regional peace, noting that peace already exists between the two nations. During the meeting, they emphasized that Dutch companies are successfully operating in Azerbaijan, spanning sectors such as shipping, port construction, the electrical industry, agriculture, urban planning, and other areas.

The discussions also touched upon cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands within international organizations.

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands extended congratulations on the successful hosting of COP29 in Azerbaijan, noting that significant results were achieved in the context of the international climate agenda during the event.

Azerbaijan has expressed gratitude to Great Britain for its consistent support in the ongoing normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan, Azernews reports.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to London Elin Suleymanov shared this on her social media account following her meeting with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and the UK’s Minister of State for Europe, North America, and Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty during a conference in Liverpool.

The 11th conference of think tanks from the Turkic States Organization (OTS) in Baku reflects more than routine diplomatic engagement; it underscores the growing strategic coherence of the Turkic World amid a period of global uncertainty. As multilateral institutions face mounting pressures and geopolitical competition intensifies across Central Eurasia, the OTS is positioning itself as a unique regional actor capable of leveraging shared culture, history, and economic interests to enhance stability and cooperation.

The conference highlighted how shared history, culture, and values create unique advantages for cooperation among Turkic states, while also addressing pressing issues such as geopolitical competition, the erosion of multilateral mechanisms, and transnational threats like cyberattacks and climate change. Participants emphasized the importance of strengthening unity, fostering economic and security collaboration, and exploring the potential for the OTS to act as a stabilizing force in the region and beyond.

Azernews spoke with Professor Vasa László, Senior Research Fellow at the Hungarian Institute for International Relations and Trade, to explore the significance of these forums, the potential of the OTS as a regional actor, and the implications for both member and observer states in navigating today’s global disorder.

– What does holding the 11th conference of OTS think tanks in Baku signal about Azerbaijan’s role within the Organization?

These OTS think-tank forums are always organized as a side event of the Sumit of OTS head of states. It was in Baku now, as the OTS Summit is organized by Azerbaijan. Sure, these events allow to focus on topics which are important for the host country. This time we were discussing how the OTS can act as regional actor during the global uncertainties. Connected to this, we also investigated the future ways of the integration of Turkic states.

– In the current era of global disorder, what unique advantages does the Turkic World have compared to other regional groupings?

The OTS countries share not only common economic and security interests but also a common culture, history, and experiences from the past. So these make it to a kind of family, instead of just a group of different countries with same actual interests. The like minded OTS countries recognized that among the uncertainties, they have to act united, as they will be stronger together.

– With global institutions under pressure and multilateralism fragmenting, can the OTS position itself as an alternative or complementary mechanism for regional stability?

Indeed, OTS countries play a crucial role in Central Eurasia’s stability. For instance, no other groupings can negotiate with the Taliban government in Afghanistan. OTS countries are also harmonizing their activities in the field of defense and security, moreover, in the related industries. The Middle Corridor affects all Turkic countries and this fact itself pushes the whole region towards stability.

– What role can observer states (such as Hungary and others) play in broadening the OTS’s influence beyond the Turkic geography?

Hungary as observer is as active within the OTS as the member countries, initiating new projects, e.g. the drought research institute, contributing equally to the Turkic Investment Fund and in Budapest is the only foreign diplomatic representation of the OTS, where the costs are covered by the Hungarian government. Hungary as an EU member, can be an excellent base for Turkic companies and organizations for their expansion and operations in Europe.

– How might competition among global powers in Central Asia and the South Caucasus affect the unity and strategic autonomy of the Turkic States?

Deepening the integration of the OTS is the best way to maintain and keep the sovereignty. The big players are more and more interested for the Turkic stats, due to their resources and the fact that the Middle Corridor goes through these countries. But with proper governance and harmonized foreign policies, these influence attempts can be handled.

Azerbaijan Chess Federation has organized a master class for national chess players, Azernews reports.

Chess players between the ages of 14, 16, and 18, who will participate in the World Chess Championship, had a session with Rauf Mammadyarov, a three-time European champion and member of the national team.

Discussing preparation for prestigious tournaments, Rauf Mammadyarov analyzed various games and answered questions from the chess players.

Azerbaijani men’s chess team will participate in the European Team Championship. Rauf Mammadyarov is included in the national team roster.

The European Team Chess Championship will take place in Batumi, Georgia, from October 4 to 15.

The event features separate Open and Women’s sections, with each competition consisting of 9 rounds played under a Swiss system.

The 2025 European Team Chess Championship will showcase 75 teams, including 39 in the Open tournament and 36 in the Women’s Championship.

Chess, for centuries, has been a popular game in Azerbaijan with ancient roots closely related to traditions. The country could preserve these traditions as chess remains a crucially popular sport for now.

To popularise this original game, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, who is also the chairman of the National Olympic Committee, signed in 2009 an executive order initiating a state-supported chess development program, covering the years 2009-2014.

The 42nd Chess Olympiad, held in Baku, is indeed an excellent example of great attention paid to the development of chess games in the country.

The large-scale event attracted a total of 1,587 participants, including 894 in the Open category and 693 in the Women’s event, making the Baku Chess Olympiad a significant event.

Similarly, the FIDE World Chess Cup 2023 in Baku captivated chess fans with its high-calibre competition and exhilarating matches.

Featuring a highly competitive lineup, the World Cup provided an exciting venue to display the remarkable skill and strategic finesse of elite chess players.

Approximately 206 competitors participated in the open section, along with 103 players in the women’s competition.

The national chess players have always been taking high places at top-ranked tournaments.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has extended congratulations to China on the occasion of its National Day, Azernews reports.

The post was shared on the ministry’s official social media account, stating: