Category: Azer News

A trial has been held on the criminal case initiated by the State Security Service (STS) against Khagani Omarov, Anar Salamzadeh, and Elchin Azizov, who are accused of financing terrorism, Azernews reports.

The hearing took place at the Baku Grave Crimes Court under the chairmanship of Judge Nigar Imanova. During the session, the defense submitted a motion requesting the termination of the criminal case against Khagani Omarov.

The court rejected the motion, deeming it unfounded. Subsequently, witnesses gave testimony, and the statements previously provided to the investigation by four individuals involved in the case were read aloud in their absence.

The trial is set to continue on October 28.

It should be noted that the accused were detained as a result of an operation conducted by the State Security Service. The investigation revealed that they had transferred funds to certain individuals operating abroad to support terrorist activities. They were charged under Article 214-1 (financing of terrorism) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The second day of the “Halal Business Forum” has officially begun in Baku, Azernews reports.

The forum features a lineup of prominent speakers, including Sunniya Durrani-Jamal, Head of the Asian Development Bank’s Azerbaijan Resident Mission; Dinh Viet Hoa, Founder and Chairperson of the Vietnam National Entrepreneurship Association; Rizvan Huseynov, Director of the Caucasus History Center (Azerbaijan); as well as other government officials and company representatives.

Key topics under discussion at the forum include: Enhancing the role of SMEs in the global green transition discourse; A joint declaration on the Baku Climate Coalition for SMEs’ green transition; The role of historical heritage in the development of halal tourism in the Caucasus and Central Asia; The role of women in the growth of the halal industry.

12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), held in GabalaThe meeting underscored the evolution of the OTS from a platform for cultural collaboration into a significant geopolitical and economic actor. Leaders emphasized that shared historical roots, languages, and cultural values provide a strong foundation for coordinated action, fostering stability and growth across member states.

During his opening remarks, President Ilham Aliyev highlighted Gabala’s historical significance, noting that it served as the capital of Caucasian Albania from the 4th century BC to the 8th century AD. Aliyev also expressed gratitude to the Kyrgyz Republic for its leadership in presiding over the OTS and acknowledged Azerbaijan’s contribution of 2 million U.S. dollars to the OTS Secretariat to support its initiatives.

The President underscored the Organization’s transformation from a cultural platform into a geopolitical center of influence, emphasizing that shared history, language, and values unite the member states as a regional family. He stressed that peace and security are the foundations of development, recalling the Nakhchivan Agreement and the recent Garabagh Declaration as key instruments guiding the Organization’s mission.

Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan’s military and defense cooperation within the OTS, including over 25 bilateral and multinational exercises with Trkiye in the past year. He proposed hosting joint military exercises in Azerbaijan in 2026 for member states, emphasizing that military strength safeguards independence and territorial integrity.

Reflecting on Azerbaijan’s recent historical achievements, Aliyev reiterated the significance of the 44-day Patriotic War of 2020 and the 2023 counter-terrorism operations that ended decades of occupation, restoring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also highlighted the peace agreement with Armenia, initialed in Washington, framing it as a turning point for the South Caucasus toward lasting stability.

Discussions at the summit highlighted regional connectivity and transport projects as central to the OTS’s agenda. Azerbaijan’s strategic location, along with infrastructure such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the International Trade Port of Alat, and the Middle Corridor, positions the Turkic states to strengthen trade links between Central Asia, Trkiye, and Europe. The opening of the Zangazur Corridor further enhances this regional connectivity, serving as a second artery within both the North-South and East-West transport corridors. Since 2022, cargo traffic along the Middle Corridor has risen significantly, and the recent opening of the Zangazur Corridor adds a new artery for regional trade.

In addition to logistics, energy security remains a cornerstone of Azerbaijan’s regional strategy. The President outlined the country’s role in supplying natural gas to 14 countries, its position as a strategic link between the Caspian region and international markets, and ongoing investments in renewable energy, aiming for around 40% of energy production from renewables by 2030. Azerbaijan has also established joint investment funds with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, collectively facilitating projects across the Turkic world totaling over 20 billion U.S. dollars.

Beyond politics and economics, the summit emphasized cultural and educational cooperation. Aliyev proposed marking the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress in 1926, highlighting the historical continuity and identity shared across Turkic nations. He also acknowledged the contributions of member states to the reconstruction of liberated territories in Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur, citing schools, mosques, and infrastructure projects built with the support of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Turkmenistan, and Trkiye.

In a broader perspective, the OTS is evolving as a model of regional integration. From coordinated infrastructure projects to joint diplomatic initiatives, the Organization is steadily asserting its presence on the global stage, leveraging the diverse strengths of its member states: Kazakhstan’s energy resources, Uzbekistan’s industrial potential, Trkiye’s geopolitical influence, and Azerbaijan’s strategic location and economic dynamism. The Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor, in particular, exemplifies the OTS’s commitment to economic sovereignty and logistical independence, reducing reliance on external powers.

The summit reaffirmed that the strength of the Turkic States Organization lies in unity, shared identity, and actionable cooperation. Under Azerbaijan’s chairmanship, the focus has been on economic integration, security collaboration, cultural exchange, and sustainable development, highlighting the country’s leadership role in shaping the organization’s trajectory.

In conclusion, the 12th OTS Summit showcased the Organization as a dynamic regional force, strengthening bonds among Turkic nations, promoting peace and security, and advancing initiatives that have both local and global impact. United, the Turkic world rises!

Azerbaijan’s national chovqan team has been crowned the champion, Azernews reports.

In the final, the national team faced off against the team from Uzbekistan.

Before the start of the match, the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan were played.

In an exciting game, our national team secured a 3-0 victory. With this result, our team became the champion of the third CIS Games.

Within the framework of the third CIS Games, the chovqan tournament was held from September 28 to October 7, with the participation of teams from six countries, including Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkiye, and Kuwait.

The Azerbaijani team took first place in the chovqan tournament, the Uzbek team came in second, and the Kyrgyz team placed third.

Chovqan is a traditional equestrian sport played between two teams riding Garabagh horses, a breed native to Azerbaijan. Considered the ancestor of modern polo, chovqan was historically played during festive celebrations and holidays.

Each team consists of five riders-two defenders (fullbacks) and three attackers (forwards).

The match begins at the center of the field, where players use wooden mallets to strike a small ball made of leather or wood, aiming to score goals against the opposing team. A standard game lasts for 30 minutes.

In recognition of its cultural significance, UNESCO inscribed chovqan on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2013.

During the plenary session of the 222nd meeting of UNESCO’s Executive Board at the organization’s headquarters, Elman Abdullayev, Azerbaijan’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, presented the country’s statement, Azernews reports.

The statement provided information on Azerbaijan’s active participation during its four-year membership on the Executive Board. It was emphasized that Azerbaijan would continue to engage actively within the UNESCO platform and contribute to the organization’s mandate.

Elman Abdullayev stressed the significance of international solidarity and multilateral cooperation on the 80th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Charter and the UNESCO Constitution. In this context, he drew attention to Azerbaijan’s efforts for peace, security, and cooperation in the region, as well as the steps taken to advance the peace process with Armenia. He particularly noted the historic meeting held on August 8, 2025, in Washington between the leaders of Azerbaijan, the United States, and Armenia, which led to the initial signing of the peace agreement text.

Referring to Azerbaijan-UNESCO cooperation, the Permanent Representative underscored the importance of projects in quality education, initiatives in science and artificial intelligence, strengthening the role of women and youth in science, and promoting intercultural dialogue within the framework of the “Baku Process.”

He also expressed the necessity of joint efforts under UNESCO to combat all forms and manifestations of racism.

It was declared that Azerbaijan, in full alignment with UNESCO’s values, would resolutely continue its work to strengthen international peace.

Since its inception, the Azerbaijan National Committee? t? UNESCO has made significant contributions? t? various UNESCO programs and projects.

These include efforts? t? safeguard and promote Azerbaijan’s cultural sites, support educational initiatives, and foster international cooperation? ?n the fields? ?f science and technology.

Azerbaijan National Committee? t? UNESCO continues? t?? be committed? t? its mission? ?f promoting peace and cooperation through education, culture, and science.

In 2003, the parties signed a framework agreement on cooperation in the areas of culture, science, education, and communication, which allowed Azerbaijan to become one of the donors of UNESCO.

Many Azerbaijani cultural sites have been included? in UNESCO’s World Heritage List, including Icherisheher (Old City) with Maiden Tower, Shirvanshah’s Palace, Gobustan National Historical-Artistic Reserve, etc. In 2021, Lankaran District was included? ?n the UNESCO list “Network? ?f Creative Cities”.

UNESCO also honors Azerbaijan’s outstanding personalities like the poet and thinker Imadaddin Nasimi, Fikrat Amirov, great philanthropist and oil magnate Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, etc.

Footage from the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States in Gabala has been shared on the social media pages of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Azernews presents the post:

“The 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Gabala.”

Relations between the European Union and Azerbaijan have entered a new stage of dynamic development, according to German Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ralf Horlemann, Azernews reports.

Speaking at the High-Level German-Azerbaijani Conference on Export Financing titled ‘Innovations and Technologies at the Financial Crossroads’, Horlemann noted that there has been a noticeable intensification of political dialogue and mutual engagement between Brussels and Baku.

‘Currently, numerous reciprocal visits are being made from Brussels to Baku and from Baku to Brussels. This is a positive development, as the European Union is Azerbaijan’s largest trade and investment partner and demonstrates its readiness to actively participate in the development of the region,’ the ambassador stated.

He highlighted that German-Azerbaijani economic and trade ties have also strengthened, particularly following the visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Azerbaijan in April.

‘A roadmap defining the perspective directions of cooperation was recently signed, and we already see German companies taking concrete steps. For instance, the agreement reached between SEFE and SOCAR in the gas sector, or the interest of German manufacturer MAN in assembling electric buses in Azerbaijan, clearly illustrate this growing partnership,’ Horlemann emphasized.

The ambassador underlined that such initiatives demonstrate both countries’ commitment to innovation, sustainable development, and deeper economic collaboration within the broader EU-Azerbaijan partnership framework.

President of the Republic of Trkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan has completed his visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

A guard of honor was lined up for the Turkish President at Gabala International Airport.

President Erdogan was seen off by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev and other officials.

On October 7, 2025, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) convened in Gabala, Azerbaijan, ahead of the 12th Summit of the OTS Heads of State, Azernews reports.

The meeting brought together Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Kosherbayev, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeenbek Kulubayev, Trkiye’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov, and Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto. Also in attendance were OTS Secretary-General Kubanychbek Omuraliev, representatives of member governments, and heads of international organizations.

Among the distinguished participants was Aktoty Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, who addressed the gathering.

Ms. Raimkulova expressed her gratitude to the Azerbaijani side for its warm hospitality and for hosting the Summit at such a high level. She emphasized that peace and security remain key priorities for strengthening cooperation among Turkic states and for preserving the region’s shared cultural heritage for future generations.

In her detailed presentation, Ms. Raimkulova reviewed the Foundation’s activities during 2025.

‘This year, we have implemented 65 projects covering restoration, museification, digitization, and cultural exchange programs. Across all our initiatives, we prioritize integration, cooperation, and unity. In line with the Vision of the Turkic World – 2040 document and the Astana Charter, we published the first Multilingual Catalogue of Turkic World Cultural Heritage. This publication will serve as the foundation for the upcoming digital platform Turkic Heritage,’ she noted.

She went on to highlight several key achievements, including the multi-volume Anthology of Turkic Folklore Heritage, implemented under the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and with the support of Turkic leaders.

The Foundation also organized an international conference at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to mark the 950th anniversary of Divani Lughat at-Turk, the monumental lexicon of Turkic languages.

Ms. Raimkulova noted that the Foundation continues to strengthen its partnerships with UNESCO, ICESCO, and other Turkic cooperation organizations, guided by the Vision of the Turkic World – 2040 and TURKTIME documents.

She further underlined that at the informal OTS Summit held in Budapest in May, a historic decision was made to admit Uzbekistan as a full member of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation-a development that has further enriched the Turkic family.

The Foundation’s head also welcomed Turkmenistan’s intention to join as an observer, describing it as an important step and expressing hope that the country would soon become a full member of the organization.

Ms. Raimkulova concluded her address with a call for greater cultural solidarity and unity among Turkic states, underscoring that shared heritage remains the cornerstone of the Turkic world’s collective identity and future.

In a constructive step toward strengthening international dialogue, the leadership of the Azerbaijan National Anti-Doping Agency (AMADA), headed by Dr. Tahmina Taghi-zada, held fruitful discussions with Dr. Mondher Gabouj, Director General of the Tunisia National Anti-Doping Agency (ANAD), Azernews reports.

The discussions focused on possible avenues of collaboration, with education and science identified as potential priority areas.

Among the ideas raised were training and capacity-building programs for athletes and athlete support personnel (ASP), as well as co-hosted educational workshops and seminars.

Both sides noted that further consultations will be needed to develop these ideas into concrete initiatives.

The meeting reflected a shared interest in exploring cooperation that could support clean sport, mutual learning, and scientific development in the years ahead.