Category: Azer News

At a gala in Baku, PR and communications strategist Ali Hajizade has been honored with the Millionaire Concept Award for “Transformative Contributions to PR Industry,” a distinction that places him alongside a small circle of global business leaders and public figures recognized for reshaping their industries. The ceremony, held at the Fairmont Baku on 1 December, brought together guests and entrepreneurs from Africa, the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the post-Soviet region, underscoring the event’s international character and the global reach of its network.

The Millionaire Concept, founded by Azerbaijani entrepreneur Agil Mamiyev, is a private membership club and business platform that has been listed among the region’s most exclusive clubs and is known for convening high-end business galas in cooperation with international brands and luxury venues. Its awards are positioned as distinctions for individuals who have successfully transformed or innovated their industries, and candidates in each category are drawn from large national and sectoral pools of already successful professionals before a small number of honorees are selected. “Our awards are not popularity contests,” said Agil Mamiyev, Founder and President of Millionaire Concept, in opening remarks. “For every edition, we run a strict, multi-level selection process that starts with a broad map of leading figures in each country and field. After independent screening, due diligence checks, and input from our international partners, only a handful of names reach the final stage and ultimately receive an award. We are interested in people who don’t just succeed personally, but who move their industries forward.”

The recent, parallel honorees on the Millionaire Concept platform illustrate the level of competition. Among them is Alexander Orlov, founder and chairman of Bulldozer Group, who has spent more than two decades in the global F and B sector and the past thirteen years building Bulldozer into a powerhouse of luxury hospitality. Another is H.E. Ali Ahmed Dinar, the 30th Sultan of the Islamic Sultanate of Darfur, a 500-year-old dynasty. In addition to his hereditary role, he is a prominent Sudanese national figure, serving as the founder and chairman of Dinar Holding Group in Turkey and Kenya, and as chair of the boards of Baqt Al-Rida University and the Sultan Ali Dinar Islamic Complex, while overseeing the Sultan Ali Dinar Museum and related foundations. On the financial side, Christopher Aleo, the Italian-Swiss CEO of iSwiss Bank, received the Millionaire Concept Award 2025 in Baku for his role in modernizing international banking and cross-border money transfers, after building a rapidly expanding network of digital financial services and being recognized by Forbes for innovation in the financial world.

It is against this backdrop that the award for “Transformative Contributions to PR Industry” was conferred on Ali Hajizade, highlighting his dual profile as both a practitioner and theorist of modern PR and communications. Born in Baku in 1984 and now based in Washington, D.C., Hajizade is the founder and CEO of Hajizade Group, a firm he launched in 2012 that was identified by independent market research as the leading PR company in Azerbaijan by 2023 performance. From the United States, he also leads Sawol Communications, a PR agency specializing in complex communications challenges and crisis management for clients in the U.S., the Middle East, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus. He is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), a senior member of the E-Commerce and Digital Marketing Association (ECDMA), and a member of the London-based Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), the world’s largest professional organization for public affairs, PR, and communications.

In addition to the practical, business-oriented side of his work, Hajizade frequently speaks as a theorist, publishing articles in specialized and academic journals, and giving lectures and seminars. He is known as the creator of a unique method in crisis communications.

At a gala in Baku, PR and communications strategist Ali Hajizade has been honored with the Millionaire Concept Award for “Transformative Contributions to PR Industry,” a distinction that places him alongside a small circle of global business leaders and public figures recognized for reshaping their industries. The ceremony, held at the Fairmont Baku on 1 December, brought together guests and entrepreneurs from Africa, the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the post-Soviet region, underscoring the event’s international character and the global reach of its network.

The Millionaire Concept, founded by Azerbaijani entrepreneur Agil Mamiyev, is a private membership club and business platform that has been listed among the region’s most exclusive clubs and is known for convening high-end business galas in cooperation with international brands and luxury venues. Its awards are positioned as distinctions for individuals who have successfully transformed or innovated their industries, and candidates in each category are drawn from large national and sectoral pools of already successful professionals before a small number of honorees are selected. “Our awards are not popularity contests,” said Agil Mamiyev, Founder and President of Millionaire Concept, in opening remarks. “For every edition, we run a strict, multi-level selection process that starts with a broad map of leading figures in each country and field. After independent screening, due diligence checks, and input from our international partners, only a handful of names reach the final stage and ultimately receive an award. We are interested in people who don’t just succeed personally, but who move their industries forward.”

The recent, parallel honorees on the Millionaire Concept platform illustrate the level of competition. Among them is Alexander Orlov, founder and chairman of Bulldozer Group, who has spent more than two decades in the global F and B sector and the past thirteen years building Bulldozer into a powerhouse of luxury hospitality. Another is H.E. Ali Ahmed Dinar, the 30th Sultan of the Islamic Sultanate of Darfur, a 500-year-old dynasty. In addition to his hereditary role, he is a prominent Sudanese national figure, serving as the founder and chairman of Dinar Holding Group in Turkey and Kenya, and as chair of the boards of Baqt Al-Rida University and the Sultan Ali Dinar Islamic Complex, while overseeing the Sultan Ali Dinar Museum and related foundations. On the financial side, Christopher Aleo, the Italian-Swiss CEO of iSwiss Bank, received the Millionaire Concept Award 2025 in Baku for his role in modernizing international banking and cross-border money transfers, after building a rapidly expanding network of digital financial services and being recognized by Forbes for innovation in the financial world.

It is against this backdrop that the award for “Transformative Contributions to PR Industry” was conferred on Ali Hajizade, highlighting his dual profile as both a practitioner and theorist of modern PR and communications. Born in Baku in 1984 and now based in Washington, D.C., Hajizade is the founder and CEO of Hajizade Group, a firm he launched in 2012 that was identified by independent market research as the leading PR company in Azerbaijan by 2023 performance. From the United States, he also leads Sawol Communications, a PR agency specializing in complex communications challenges and crisis management for clients in the U.S., the Middle East, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus. He is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), a senior member of the E-Commerce and Digital Marketing Association (ECDMA), and a member of the London-based Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), the world’s largest professional organization for public affairs, PR, and communications.

In addition to the practical, business-oriented side of his work, Hajizade frequently speaks as a theorist, publishing articles in specialized and academic journals, and giving lectures and seminars. He is known as the creator of a unique method in crisis communications.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov paid a working visit to Turkmenistan on December 11, Azernews reports.

Prime Minister was welcomed at Ashgabat International Airport by Turkmenistan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Mammetkhan Chakiev, along with other senior officials.

He will take part in Turkmenistan’s Neutrality Day.

Turkmenistan is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its permanent neutrality in 2025, culminating around December 12 (Neutrality Day), which coincides with the UN-declared “International Year of Peace and Trust.” This milestone marks three decades since the UN recognized its status on December 12, 1995, celebrated with international forums in Ashgabat.

‘Although the occupation of the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan by Armenia is an undeniable fact, and although the numerous pieces of evidence presented at the court hearing have confirmed this, this reality neither diminishes the responsibility of the current defendants – who were among the principal figures of the criminal organization created by Armenia – nor exempts them from liability,’ said Vusal Aliyev, Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, in his reply during the trial of 15 Armenian nationals.

According to him, although the many crimes referred to during the hearing were committed through the organization and support of Armenia’s military and political leadership, they were also carried out with the participation of the criminal organization that the current defendants joined at various times.

‘At certain periods, some of the defendants even formally held positions within Armenia’s military or political leadership. In this regard, the Armenian state and the so-called regime acted as a single organism in planning, executing, and maintaining the occupation,’ the state prosecutor added.

Court proceedings continue against the Armenian nationals accused of committing numerous crimes as a result of Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan, including war crimes, crimes against peace and humanity, preparation and waging of an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, the violent seizure of power, its forcible retention, and other serious offenses.

On December 11, the opening ceremony of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit was held at Liv Bona Dea Hospital.

Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva and Minister of Health Teymur Musayev attended the ceremony.

Leyla Aliyeva first visited a young patient receiving treatment at the hospital under the auspices of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, inquired about the child’s health, and presented a gift.

The Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit was then officially opened.

The new unit will perform bone marrow transplantations for both adults and children. It was reported that the unit has six specially isolated wards. This infrastructure allows for the reception and treatment of up to 80 patients annually.

It was noted that the hospital also has an eight-bed haematology department at patients’ disposal. All wards in the department are equipped with a modern HEPA-filtered positive pressure system, ensuring maximum protection for patients from infections. Chemotherapy preparations are prepared in biosafety cabinets, and cell collection is carried out in an independent apheresis unit.

At the same time, the Blood Bank is capable of preparing erythrocytes, platelets, plasma, and other components, including obtaining granulocyte suspension. Irradiation and filtration procedures are regularly applied to ensure the safety of transplant patients.

The Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit was opened on the basis of a license issued in accordance with the Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers amending the ‘List of Specialized Medical Institutions Performing Organ Transplantation,’ approved by the Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 20 August 2021.

It is recalled that bone marrow and stem cell transplantation is a modern and effective medical procedure used in the treatment of various haematological and oncological diseases. Stem cells obtained from the patient themselves (autologous) or from a donor (allogeneic) are transplanted into the body after high-dose chemotherapy. The aim is to replace diseased bone marrow with healthy cells and restore blood formation.

The Vietnamese parliament on Thursday approved amendments to the Geology and Minerals Law that place rare earth elements under strict state control and prohibit the export of unprocessed ores, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

The revised law, which will take effect on January 1, 2026, classifies rare earths as a strategic national resource. All exploration, mining and processing activities must align with Vietnam’s national rare earth development strategy and long-term master plan.

Under the new regulations, only state-designated organizations and enterprises will be authorized to survey, exploit and process rare earth deposits. The government will control access to geological data, regulate trade, and maintain strategic reserves of the minerals.

The legislation also encourages international cooperation, particularly in research and advanced processing technologies-an area where Vietnam aims to reduce its dependence on foreign partners and move up the global value chain.

Vietnam currently holds an estimated 3.5 million tons of rare earth reserves, making it the sixth-largest holder worldwide, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Analysts note that with demand for rare earths soaring due to electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, and electronics manufacturing, the new law could position Vietnam as a more influential player in the global supply market.

On December 11, the trial at the Baku Military Court continued regarding Armenian citizens accused of criminal activities.

According to Azernews, during the court session, the parties were given the opportunity to exercise their right of reply.

Vusal Aliyev, Chief Assistant to the Prosecutor General, began his remarks by addressing the part of the case concerning the disputed roles of the defendants within a criminal organization. He recalled that, according to the defense, a criminal organization is generally formed to commit unlawful acts based on international criminal law practices.

In response, the prosecutor defending the state emphasized that the evidence examined during the trial confirmed that several years before the outbreak of the First Garabagh War, the mentioned criminal groups had already begun to form. Aliyev stated:

‘It is true that the evidence confirmed that these groups were indeed supported and armed by the leadership of Armenia. However, we later observed that the leaders and members of these armed groups held significant political and military positions both in the so-called administration established in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and in Armenia itself. In other words, these groups were not random or independent collectives; they eventually became integral parts of the criminal army that occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Regarding the defendants, for example, David Manukyan was a member of the Shusha Battalion, and Davit Ishkhanyan served as commander of the ’28th Martuni’ Battalion. These and other battalions were essentially the reorganized, more structured, and militarized versions of the previously mentioned illegal groups.’

It should be noted that the trial of Armenian citizens continues on charges including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, preparation and execution of an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism and financing of terrorism, forcible seizure of power, maintaining power through force, and numerous other offenses resulting from Armenia’s military aggression.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, sent a congratulatory letter to Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Azernews reports.

Dear brother,

“It is with great pleasure that I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and the brotherly people of Turkmenistan on the momentous occasion of the 30th anniversary of the international recognition of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality.

Thirty years ago, the recognition of Turkmenistan’s status of permanent neutrality by the international community was an important event and a major historic achievement that stimulated your country’s dynamic and sustainable development and strengthened its standing in the international arena.

The essence of Turkmenistan’s policy of permanent neutrality stems from your people’s centuries old humanist, peace-loving and moral-ethical philosophy. Today, Turkmenistan’s constructive initiatives aimed at broad international cooperation serve noble goals such as strengthening global peace and security and promoting human values. At the same time, by actively advocating its peace oriented doctrine on the global stage, your country contributes to the enhancement of international dialogue through mutually beneficial cooperation.

Azerbaijan has always treated with deep respect the neutrality policy of brotherly and friendly neighbour Turkmenistan. It is no coincidence that the Republic of Azerbaijan was a co-author of the relevant United Nations General Assembly resolutions on your country’s neutrality status both in 1995 and in 2015.

The current level of relations between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan is a source of great satisfaction. I would like to particularly highlight your consistent and resolute personal efforts to strengthen our interstate relations and fraternal ties. Taking this opportunity, I recall with the fondest impressions your two visits to Azerbaijan this year, my August visit to the enchanting Awaza, and our meetings and conversations held in an atmosphere of sincerity and mutual trust.

I am confident that we will continue our joint efforts consistently to further reinforce the bonds of brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan and to elevate our multifaceted cooperation to a new stage.

Dear Gurbanguly Myalikgulyyevich, on this festive occasion, I once again extend my congratulations to you, and wish you robust health, happiness, and success in your endeavors, as well as lasting peace and prosperity to the brotherly people of Turkmenistan.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has hosted the World Conference on Doping in Sport in Busan, Republic of Korea, Azernews reports.

The Azerbaijan National Anti-Doping Agency (AMADA) was represented at the conference by its Executive Director, Tahmina Taghi-zada, and the Head of the Results Management and Investigations Department, Nijat Amiraslanli.

The conference gathered nearly 2,000 delegates from 191 countries, including representatives of the sports community, government bodies, national and regional anti-doping agencies, laboratories, and researchers.

Participants assessed the progress made since the last World Conference held in 2019 in Katowice, Poland, and reviewed the advancements of the strengthened global anti-doping program.

Speaking at the plenary session titled “Implementation Support for the 2027 Code and Standards, AMADA’s Executive Director Tahmina Taghi-zada underlined the significance of the first WADA European Regional Symposium to be held next year in Azerbaijan. She highlighted the country’s achievements in promoting clean sport and the capital city, Baku’s, proven capacity to successfully host major international sporting events.

Inviting participants to the upcoming Regional Symposium in Baku, Tahmina Taghi-zada noted that the event would serve as an important platform for strengthening cooperation within the international anti-doping system, expanding the exchange of best practices, and ensuring more effective implementation of new regulations. She added that the Symposium would foster mutual trust among relevant stakeholders, contribute to the development of anti-doping capacities in the region, and further reinforce Azerbaijan’s role as an active partner within the global anti-doping ecosystem.

The conference concluded with the approval of the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards by WADA’s governing bodies – the Foundation Board and the Executive Committee. The “Busan Declaration,” emphasizing the importance of clean sport and calling on all stakeholders to enhance cooperation and support athletes, was also adopted.

The new rules will cover areas such as the Prohibited List, Therapeutic Use Exemptions, doping control procedures, results management, and data protection. The new World Anti-Doping Code will come into force on 1 January 2027 and remain valid until 2033.

On December 11, the trial at the Baku Military Court continued regarding Armenian citizens accused of criminal activities.

According to Azernews, during the court session, the parties were given the opportunity to exercise their right of reply.

Vusal Aliyev, Chief Assistant to the Prosecutor General, began his remarks by addressing the part of the case concerning the disputed roles of the defendants within a criminal organization. He recalled that, according to the defense, a criminal organization is generally formed to commit unlawful acts based on international criminal law practices.

In response, the prosecutor defending the state emphasized that the evidence examined during the trial confirmed that several years before the outbreak of the First Garabagh War, the mentioned criminal groups had already begun to form. Aliyev stated:

‘It is true that the evidence confirmed that these groups were indeed supported and armed by the leadership of Armenia. However, we later observed that the leaders and members of these armed groups held significant political and military positions both in the so-called administration established in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and in Armenia itself. In other words, these groups were not random or independent collectives; they eventually became integral parts of the criminal army that occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Regarding the defendants, for example, David Manukyan was a member of the Shusha Battalion, and Davit Ishkhanyan served as commander of the ’28th Martuni’ Battalion. These and other battalions were essentially the reorganized, more structured, and militarized versions of the previously mentioned illegal groups.’

It should be noted that the trial of Armenian citizens continues on charges including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, preparation and execution of an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism and financing of terrorism, forcible seizure of power, maintaining power through force, and numerous other offenses resulting from Armenia’s military aggression.