Category: Azer News

The Zangezur Corridor is entering its final stages as it approaches the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, Azernews reports.

Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration, shared the update on his official “X” account.

‘Zangazur Corridor comes to final completion towards Azerbaijan-Armenia border. Azerbaijan is doing its hard work on the ground to establish regional transport and logistics connectivity!!!’ Hajiyev stated.

The Absheron-Khizi regional judo championship for athletes under 14 will be held soon, Azernews reports.

The Azerbaijan Judo Federation announced the upcoming event, which is scheduled for November 1-2 at the Sumgayit Olympic Sports Complex.

The main purpose of the tournament is to strengthen the foundation of young judokas and select athletes who will qualify for the national championship through regional quotas.

A total of 176 young competitors from Absheron, Khizi, and Sumgayit are set to take part in the championship.

Founded in 1972, the Azerbaijan Judo Federation actively promotes this martial art across the country. Since 2015, the Federation has been led by Rovnag Abdullayev.

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.

At the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games, judokas Hidayat Heydarov (73 kg) and Zelym Kotsoiev (100 kg) earned gold medals for Azerbaijan.

On November 8, the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan adopted a statement dedicated to the fifth anniversary of Victory Day, Azernews reports.

Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova stated that the victory achieved in the Patriotic War holds not only military and political importance but also deep moral significance.

‘This expresses revival. The events of recent years show that only peoples closely united around their leader are capable of protecting and restoring their rights,’ she said.

Gafarova also noted the large-scale construction and resettlement work carried out in the liberated territories, emphasizing that more than 50,000 people have already returned to live in their native lands.

‘After the end of the conflict, peace negotiations have begun on the basis of the principles put forward by Azerbaijan. We believe that our country will achieve greater success in the coming years in conditions of peace and stability,’ she added, paying tribute to the martyrs and veterans who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Azerbaijan’s lands.

The text of the statement was presented by MP Vugar Rahimzade, and it was unanimously adopted by the Milli Majlis.

Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Farhad Hajiyev met with Japan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Katsuya Watanabe, to discuss preparations for the 2026 Sumo World Championship, which is set to take place in Baku, Azernews reports.

The meeting covered topics such as encouraging Japanese sports fans to visit Azerbaijan as part of the “Baku – Sports Capital of the World” initiative, organizing joint training camps, and other areas of cooperation.

The meeting was also attended by Elnur Mammadov, Head of the Sports Department, Zarifa Zulfugarova, Head of the International Relations Department, and Taiichi Tsuchiya, First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy.

Note that the International Sumo Federation selected Azerbaijan to host the event, with backing from the Japan Martial Arts Association, following a bidding process that involved competing countries.

In September, the official flag of the tournament was formally handed over to Azerbaijan. The ceremony took place at Sumo World Championship held in Bangkok, Thailand.

The flag was accepted on behalf of Azerbaijan by the Vice-President of the Japanese Martial Arts and Culture Association in Azerbaijan, Ulvi Aghamirov.

The mascot for the 2026 Sumo World Championship in Baku is Azumo. It was revealed to the public during the championship’s presentation and represents both strength and the long-standing tradition of Azerbaijani hospitality.

The unveiling of Azumo and other promotional materials occurred at the Sumo Expo 2025 event in Osaka, Japan.

Bulgaria has emphasized Azerbaijan’s key role in diversifying natural gas supply sources and enhancing the energy security of Southeast Europe.

As reported by Azernews, this was noted during the Bulgaria-Azerbaijan Business Forum held in Sofia as part of the 7th session of the Intergovernmental Joint Commission. The event included B2B meetings aimed at expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.

Deputy Minister of Energy of Bulgaria, Iva Petrova, said the forum provided a new opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations.

“The spirit of cooperation and productive discussions developed during the 7th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation with Azerbaijan are now continuing in this format. Our strategic partnership with Azerbaijan has entered a new phase,” Petrova noted.

She underlined that the energy sector remains a key priority in the effective cooperation between the two countries.

Boyko Takov, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA), highlighted additional promising areas for collaboration – including industrial equipment and engineering solutions, food and agricultural processing technologies, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, consumer goods, logistics and transport, as well as information technology and digital transition.

‘Our common goal is to develop relations from trade to partnership – from import and export to joint investments, innovation, and value creation,’ Takov added.

The forum brought together representatives of 80 Bulgarian and 25 Azerbaijani companies. Bulgaria currently imports Azerbaijani natural gas through the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector (IGB), which has an annual transmission capacity of 3 billion cubic meters.

As part of the project “Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW”, the “Above” Creative Tour will be held in a cultural space located on the rooftop of a historic building, where renowned artists and painters will present their studios, Azernews reports.

The artists will present their works based on the festival’s main theme, “Water.” The Creative Tour aims to explore the significance of water as a source of life and an inspiring force for artists. Water is not just a physical element; it also symbolizes the human connection with nature, emotions, and culture.

The tour will be led by Asmar Babayeva, the chair of the ICOM National Committee and a well-known art historian.

From 31 October to 2 November, the project “Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW” is being held in Baku. The event is organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the IDEA Public Union, in partnership with the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry. The author and initiator of the project is Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder of the IDEA Public Union.

The project aims to present Baku as a global cultural capital, a city that unites tradition and modernity, brings together diverse ideas, and inspires future generations.

Over the course of three days, art lovers can expect an engaging and extraordinary weekend experience.

Under the theme “Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW,” the event immerses the city in a wave of creativity, emotion, and energy.

As the central element of Art Weekend, water has been chosen as a symbol of sustainability, renewal, and collective memory. This choice is far from accidental: water serves as a metaphor for creative impulse, a mirror of transformation, and a bridge between humanity and nature. From philosophical, artistic, and ecological perspectives, water will stand at the heart of the Art Weekend’s concept.

During the festival days, visitors have the opportunity to explore exhibitions, presentations, lectures, master classes, music sessions, tours, street art projects, and immersive street theatre performances across Baku.

The festival spans some of the city’s leading cultural venues, including the Heydar Aliyev Center, Icherisheher (Old City), Baku Modern Art Museum, Stone Chronicles Museum, Azerbaijan State Academic Russian Drama Theatre, Baku Marionette Theatre, Republic Children and Youth Development Center, Magsud Ibrahimbayov Creativity Center, QGallery, Baku Photography House, YARAT Contemporary Art Space, the-21st Century Azerbaijani Painting Museum, Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, Nine Senses Art Center, and other locations.

A delegation of foreign diplomats is visiting Azerbaijan’s Jabrayil and Zangilan regions, retracing the steps of President Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports.

Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration, shared the update on his ‘X’ account.

We are visiting the Jabrayil and Zangilan districts together with members of the diplomatic corps, following in the footsteps of President Ilham Aliyev. The first stop of our trip is the village of Horovlu.

The Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum has opened an exhibition titled “Art and Weapon: Traditional Azerbaijani Weapons Through the Eyes of Artists”, Azernews reports.

The exhibition, dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the Victory in the 44-day Patriotic War, was organized jointly by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum.

The event was opened by the museum’s director, Amina Malikova, who stated that this exhibition would present the historical, technological, and artistic development of traditional Azerbaijani weapons through the creativity of contemporary artists.

The exhibition features about 30 works of art created by 26 painters and sculptors. As the first large-scale project prepared with a principle of a comprehensive approach to the topic, the presented works reflect a synthesis of academic and postmodernist approaches, as well as influences from the classical miniature heritage.

The exhibition’s curators, Sevil Karimova, Vice-Rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts and PhD in Art Studies, and Sabuhi Ahmadov, PhD in History and author of the catalog “Steel Patterns: The Weapon Collection of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum,” spoke about the significance of the exhibition.

It was emphasized that the exhibition and the first catalog dedicated to the museum’s weapon collection hold special importance for presenting Azerbaijani arms heritage, national craftsmanship traditions, and the history of statehood in an artistic context, as well as for promoting national-cultural identity.

At the opening ceremony, students from the SABAH Center of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts presented a dramatic-choreographic composition titled “The Weapon of Justice Triumphs Over Evil Forces.”

Afterwards, participants of the event had the opportunity to closely view the exhibition.

The exposition also features rare weapon samples from the personal collections of collectors Yusif Bagirzad? and Ilqar H?s?n?lizad?, dating from the 16th-19th centuries.

Among these exhibits are weapons that belonged to Prince Abbas Mirza Qajar, Nasreddin Shah Qajar, one of the governors of the Safavid state, and the Khan of Shaki. Additionally, replicas of weapons traditionally made, including those of Sultan Uzun H?s?n and Shah Ismail Khatai, as well as Zulfiqar swords and shashkas, are on display.

Montenegro’s Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, Siniša Bjekovic, has officially responded to a letter from Azerbaijan’s Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson), Sabina Aliyeva, concerning the detention of an Azerbaijani citizen in Podgorica, Azernews reports.

According to the Office of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, the Montenegrin Ombudsman informed that the issue had been taken under special oversight, and direct contact had been established with the country’s Police Directorate. He assured that the detained Azerbaijani citizen is being treated with particular sensitivity and respect for human rights.

Bjekovic also emphasized that Montenegro is firmly committed to protecting the rights of every citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including in cases involving the prevention of discrimination, hate speech, or hostility on ethnic, national, or religious grounds. He further noted that the progress of the investigation and court proceedings related to the detained individual will remain under his supervision, within the scope of his official mandate.

The Azerbaijani Commissioner for Human Rights continues to closely monitor the situation.

Bulgaria has emphasized Azerbaijan’s key role in diversifying natural gas supply sources and enhancing the energy security of Southeast Europe.

As reported by Azernews, this was noted during the Bulgaria-Azerbaijan Business Forum held in Sofia as part of the 7th session of the Intergovernmental Joint Commission. The event included B2B meetings aimed at expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.

Deputy Minister of Energy of Bulgaria, Iva Petrova, said the forum provided a new opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations.

“The spirit of cooperation and productive discussions developed during the 7th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation with Azerbaijan are now continuing in this format. Our strategic partnership with Azerbaijan has entered a new phase,” Petrova noted.

She underlined that the energy sector remains a key priority in the effective cooperation between the two countries.

Boyko Takov, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA), highlighted additional promising areas for collaboration – including industrial equipment and engineering solutions, food and agricultural processing technologies, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, consumer goods, logistics and transport, as well as information technology and digital transition.

‘Our common goal is to develop relations from trade to partnership – from import and export to joint investments, innovation, and value creation,’ Takov added.

The forum brought together representatives of 80 Bulgarian and 25 Azerbaijani companies. Bulgaria currently imports Azerbaijani natural gas through the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector (IGB), which has an annual transmission capacity of 3 billion cubic meters.