Category: Azer News

Azerbaijan and Georgia have officially launched an electronic permit (E-Permit) system for international road freight transport, marking a significant step toward the digitalization of cross-border logistics and trade, AzerNEWS reports.

The announcement was made by the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency (AYNA), which said the initiative follows an agreement reached during the meeting of the Azerbaijan-Georgia Joint Commission on International Road Transport held in Baku on April 8-9, 2026.

Under the agreement, a joint technical working group comprising representatives from the relevant authorities of both countries began integrating the system on May 1. The technical integration has now been successfully completed.

Following the completion of the integration process, Azerbaijan and Georgia carried out their first pilot freight shipments using electronic permits. After the successful pilot phase, the two countries moved to fully implement the system by exchanging an initial batch of 3,000 electronic permits-including 1,000 bilateral permits, 1,000 transit permits, and 1,000 third-country transport permits. Distribution of these electronic permits to freight carriers has also begun.

With the latest rollout, Georgia becomes the fifth country to adopt Azerbaijan’s E-Permit system. The digital platform has already been successfully implemented with Trkiye, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.

According to AYNA, transport operators can obtain electronic permits through the e-xidmet.ayna.gov.az portal without visiting government offices. The platform operates in a fully automated mode 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing carriers to apply for and receive permits remotely at any time.

The agency emphasized that the E-Permit system accelerates the permit issuance process, streamlines administrative procedures, reduces paper-based documentation, and supports the broader digital transformation of international freight transportation between participating countries.

On July 22, Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company (SOCAR) held discussions with global energy research and consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie on strengthening their strategic partnership and exploring new opportunities across the energy sector, AzerNEWS reports.

According to a statement released by SOCAR, the company’s President Rovshan Najaf met with Simon Flowers, Chairman and Chief Analyst of Wood Mackenzie.

During the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction with Azerbaijan’s steadily strengthening position as a reliable partner in global energy markets.

SOCAR presented its long-term strategic objectives, highlighting the company’s ongoing transformation into an international energy enterprise. The delegation was briefed on SOCAR’s activities across various segments of the energy industry, as well as its major projects in Azerbaijan and abroad.

The discussions also focused on the future prospects of the long-standing cooperation between SOCAR and Wood Mackenzie. The two sides exchanged views on current trends shaping global energy markets and explored opportunities for collaboration in oil and gas refining, renewable energy, decarbonization, digital transformation, and the application of advanced analytical solutions across the energy sector.

The meeting reaffirmed both organizations’ commitment to expanding cooperation and supporting innovation as the global energy industry continues to evolve.

Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) will introduce temporary restrictions on the import of certain quarantine-controlled agricultural products from Uzbekistan starting July 23.

AzerNEWS reports that the measure targets products supplied by five Uzbek exporters found to have repeatedly violated Russia’s phytosanitary regulations.

Rosselkhoznadzor announced the decision in an official statement, saying the restrictions are aimed at preventing the entry of quarantine pests and protecting the country’s agricultural and food security.

The import ban covers a range of fresh produce, including white and cauliflower cabbage, onions, dill, parsley, beets, tomatoes, and grapes. These products account for the majority of the restricted shipments from the affected exporters.

According to the Russian regulator, the temporary measures were introduced following an increase in the detection of quarantine organisms in imported consignments. The agency said the restrictions are necessary to safeguard Russia’s food security and ensure compliance with national phytosanitary standards.

An Israeli High Court justice said that individuals who describe Israel as an apartheid state should not be allowed to enter the country, during a hearing on petitions filed by international humanitarian organizations challenging restrictions on their operations, AzerNEWS reports.

Justice Alex Stein made the remarks on Monday while the court was considering appeals submitted by several international aid groups after Israeli authorities rejected their requests to continue operating in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

“Anyone who calls the State of Israel an apartheid state has no right to set foot in the State of Israel,” Stein said during the proceedings.

The petitions were filed by Save the Children, the Italian humanitarian organization CESVI, and the Swedish NGO Diakonia, which challenged Israel’s decision to prevent them from continuing their activities serving the Palestinian population.

In a separate case heard the same day, the High Court ordered the removal of a medical opinion attached to a petition submitted by human rights organizations seeking to allow patients from Gaza to enter Israel for medical treatment. The justices ruled that the document contained accusations against the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli government.

Diplomatic passport holders between Azerbaijan and Sudan have been mutually exempted from visa requirements.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev approved the relevant “Agreement between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Government of Sudan on mutual visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders”. The text of the document was published on the official website of the President of Azerbaijan.

The agreement was signed on May 19, 2026, in Baku.

The Charter of the public legal entity “Center for Analysis of International Relations and Multiculturalism” has been approved, AzerNEWS reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree.

The text of the document has been published on the official website of the President of Azerbaijan.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan must resolve the issues arising from this decree.

“Mediacell” subscribers will receive a complimentary 5 GB mobile internet pack

The history of Azerbaijan’s national press began on 22 July 1875 with the publication of ‘Akinchi’, the country’s first Azerbaijani-language newspaper, founded by the prominent educator Hasan bey Zardabi. For more than 150 years, national media has played a vital role in informing the public, promoting social values, and documenting the country’s development.

To mark National Press and Journalism Day, Azercell is offering a complimentary 5 GB mobile internet package to all “Mediacell” tariff subscribers. The package will be valid for 30 days from the date of activation.

For more information, please visit: Media Day

On the occasion of National Press and Journalism Day, “Azercell Telecom” LLC extends its sincere congratulations to all media professionals and expresses its appreciation for their dedication, professionalism, and invaluable contribution to keeping society informed through accurate, timely, and reliable journalism.

The company also respectfully honors the memory of journalists Maharram Ibrahimov and Siraj Abishov, who lost their lives while carrying out their professional duties in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories.

Azerbaijani athlete Onur Guluzaade has won a bronze medal in the doubles competition at the European Youth Table Tennis Championships held in Gondomar, Portugal, AzerNEWS reports.

Guluzaade claimed the medal alongside his Turkish teammate Görkem Öcal, marking a historic achievement for Azerbaijani table tennis.

The young player became the first Azerbaijani table tennis athlete in the independence era to win a medal at this level of European competition.

Note that the national table tennis players have been increasingly active on the international stage, representing the country in various European and world competitions.

In recent years, their participation in training camps and tournaments abroad has played an important role in improving performance levels and gaining international experience.

The Azerbaijan Table Tennis Federation (ASTF) plays a key role in the development of the sport in the country.

The federation was established in the early 1950s, following the organization of a Baku section for table tennis. This came after a growing interest in the sport in the 1930s and 1940s.

Officially, ASTF has been a member of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) since 1995, and at the same time a member of the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU).

One of the main goals of ASTF is to organize and develop table tennis across the country: to build a stable and well-equipped national federation; to ensure proper material and technical support and training for the national teams; to promote the sport at the grassroots level, including among youth; and to involve Azerbaijani athletes in national and international competitions.

July 22 marks the 151st anniversary of the founding of Azerbaijan’s national press, AzerNEWS reports.

The historic date commemorates the launch of Ekinchi (The Cultivator), the first Azerbaijani-language newspaper established by the renowned intellectual and educator Hasan bey Zardabi in 1875.

Since 1991, July 22 has been officially celebrated in Azerbaijan as National Press Day, honoring the legacy of the country’s journalism and the generations of journalists who have contributed to its development.

Although Ekinchi published only 56 issues during its short existence from July 22, 1875, until September 1877, its influence on Azerbaijani society was profound and long-lasting. The newspaper became a pioneering platform for education, enlightenment, and the exchange of ideas, reaching both the country’s intellectual circles and ordinary citizens.

The publication attracted contributions from many prominent writers, thinkers, and public figures of the time, who recognized its vital role in raising social awareness and promoting knowledge. However, its growing influence alarmed the authorities of Tsarist Russia, which viewed the newspaper’s efforts to educate the population and encourage awareness of social and political issues with suspicion. As a result, Ekinchi was eventually forced to cease publication.

Over the decades, Azerbaijani journalism has experienced numerous challenges, transformations, and periods of revival, consistently serving as a reflection of society and a platform for public dialogue.

One of the most significant milestones came in August 1998, when media censorship was abolished in Azerbaijan. The decree signed by President Heydar Aliyev on August 16, 1998, “On Measures to Ensure Freedom of Speech, Thought and Information in the Republic of Azerbaijan,” marked a new era for the country’s media landscape by strengthening press freedom and creating conditions for further media development.

Today, Azerbaijan’s media sector continues to evolve, with a wide range of newspapers, magazines, and digital platforms contributing to the modern information environment. Online journalism has become an increasingly important part of the country’s media ecosystem, reflecting global trends in communication and technology.

The celebration of National Press Day, state initiatives supporting media organizations, programs aimed at improving journalists’ social welfare, and recognition of outstanding media professionals demonstrate continued attention to the development of the press and the protection of journalism as a public institution.

As part of efforts to enhance journalists’ social conditions, two residential buildings were constructed for media workers. President Ilham Aliyev participated in ceremonies in 2013 and 2017 where apartments were awarded to journalists in recognition of their professional contributions.

Freedom of speech and freedom of the press, enshrined as fundamental principles in Azerbaijan’s Constitution, have played an important role in strengthening the media sector and establishing it as an essential element of public life. Azerbaijani journalists remain among the key contributors to this ongoing evolution.

In 2020, President Ilham Aliyev signed an order marking the 145th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s national press, followed by another order in 2025 dedicated to the 150th anniversary celebrations.

A further step in media modernization came on January 12, 2021, when President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on deepening media reforms in Azerbaijan.

The decree led to the establishment of the Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, aimed at supporting media growth, strengthening institutional frameworks, and encouraging innovation and the use of advanced information and communication technologies in journalism.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has described the renewed conflict between the United States and Iran as the most favorable scenario for Israel, saying it serves Israeli interests as long as the country does not become directly involved in the fighting, AzerNEWS reports.

Speaking on Tuesday in remarks carried by Kan News, Smotrich said, “Israel has no interest in joining the campaign – the current situation is the best for us.”

The comments came after the United States resumed military strikes against Iranian targets earlier this month, prompting retaliatory Iranian attacks on US assets across the region. Israel has not taken part in the latest round of hostilities.

Smotrich said Israel’s long-term objective remains the weakening of the Iranian government, arguing that the ultimate goal should be to undermine the regime to the point of its collapse.

He also stated that damaging Iran’s economy would be the most effective means of achieving that objective.

Smotrich, a leading figure in Israel’s far-right government, has previously advocated for the occupation of Gaza, the establishment of Israeli settlements in the enclave, and the expansion of Israeli military control.