Category: Azer News

Azerbaijan Defence Ministry has shared a weekly report on Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ recent participation in the joint operational-tactical exercise Peace Shield – 2026 in Abu Dhabi as well as overall activities, AzerNEWS reports, citing the Defence Ministry.

Recall that on February 3, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and United Arab Emirates’ President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan observed the joint operational-tactical exercise Peace Shield – 2026, conducted with the participation of servicemen from the armed forces of both countries in Abu Dhabi.

The Coca-Cola Company and its strategic bottling partner, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, have agreed a new soft drinks partnership with the Irish Football Association (Irish FA) and the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL).

The partnership aims to support and promote both national and domestic football teams across Northern Ireland through a range of coordinated activations and initiatives.

Under the agreement, Coca-Cola will activate the sponsorship across several brands in its portfolio, including Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Powerade. This will include providing drinks on match days, delivering branding and social media campaigns, and offering fans exclusive access to football-related events and experiences.

The Coca-Cola Company has a long history of supporting football globally, including sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA European Championship and the English Premier League.

The announcement underscores Coca-Cola’s commitment to investing in and promoting grassroots and domestic football, while also supporting the communities it serves across Northern Ireland.

Representatives of Azerbaijan’s civil society have addressed an open letter to Vice President of the United States of America JD Vance.

AzerNews presents the full text of the letter:

‘Dear Mr. Vice President,

We write to you as representatives of a nation that has, for centuries, served as a bridge between civilizations. This is a land where the call to prayer and the ringing of church bells harmonize in a spirit of true coexistence. Azerbaijan remains steadfast in its commitment to the spiritual and traditional values that form the bedrock of any stable society: the sanctity of the family, the preservation of heritage, and the protection of religious freedom.

In light of the current U.S. Administration’s firm commitment to religious freedom and interfaith dialogue, we are proud to highlight Azerbaijan’s enduring legacy as a model of interfaith harmony and tolerance. Our nation’s relationship with the Christian world is not merely diplomatic, but deeply cultural. Azerbaijan has historically invested in the protection of diverse religious heritage, including the extensive renovation of Christian churches and sacred sites in Vatican. We take immense pride in our blossoming ties with the Holy See and the growing presence of diverse Christian denominations within our borders. From the flourishing activities of the Catholic community to the recent establishment of the ‘Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ in Baku, Azerbaijan continues to expand the space for faith to thrive. Our commitment is further evidenced by the ongoing construction of a second Catholic church in our capital which is a testament to our belief that a society is strengthened by its religious diversity.

However, the path to our current peace has been marked by profound loss. We must remember the historical injustice faced by Western Azerbaijanis who, since 1987, were forcibly uprooted from their ancestral lands in Armenia.

Hundreds of villages were emptied, homes looted, and sacred sites, including the historic Blue Mosque in Yerevan, were desecrated or had their identities erased.

Despite decades of integration within Azerbaijan, the longing to visit ancestral graves and restore ruined homes remains a peaceful, humanitarian heartbeat within our people.

Western Azerbaijanis harbor no territorial ambitions. Their goal is not to challenge sovereignty of Armenia, but to exercise the fundamental human right to return to one’s roots in peace and dignity.

We stand at a historic crossroads. The Joint Declaration signed on August 8, 2025, in Washington, serves as a beacon of hope. We fully endorse the vision shared by President Ilham Aliyev and US President Donald Trump to replace decades of discord with a future defined by trade, security, and mutual respect.

Mr. Vice President,

We ask for your support in advocating for the right of return and preservation of the cultural heritage of Azerbaijanis expelled from the Republic of Armenia in early 90s.

Your support for the peaceful return of Western Azerbaijanis to their historical homelands and restoration of destroyed religious and cultural heritage sites of Azerbaijani people in Armenia can be a significant step forward in the right direction.

Furthermore, we believe a truly comprehensive peace must address the right of return for Azerbaijanis forcibly displaced from their ancestral lands in Armenia. While the Western Azerbaijan Community seeks a constructive dialogue regarding a peaceful return, these efforts have yet to be reciprocated. Ultimately, a just and lasting peace must include the reconciliation and safe return of these individuals to their original homes.

Your leadership and moral clarity can ensure that the “Peace of 2025” becomes a permanent reality for every family in the Caucasus.

With Respect and Sincerity,

The Representatives of Azerbaijani Civil Society

1. Ramil Iskandarli – Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum

2. Oghuz Mammadov – Chairman of “Zangi – Study of Historical Heritage” Public Union

3. Fuad Mammadov – Chairman of the “Simurg” Azerbaijan Cultural Association

4. Khatira Valiyeva – Member of the Board of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum

5. Rizvan Nabiyev – Member of the Board of the ‘Legal Analysis and Research’ Public Union

6. Tanzila Rustamkhanli – Chairperson of the ‘Azeri-Turk Women’s Union’

7. Novella Jafarova – Chairwoman of the Dilara Aliyeva Azerbaijan Women’s Rights Society

8. Saadat Bananyarli – Chairwoman of the “Azerbaijan National Unit of the International Human Rights Society” Public Union

9. Saltanat Gojamanli – Chairwoman of the “Protection of Human Rights and Legality” Public Union

10. Sevinc Alizade – Chairwoman of the ‘Victory’ Support to Families of Martyrs Public Union

11. Amir Aliyev – Chairman of the ‘Center for the Promotion of Human Rights’ Public Union

12. Alimammad Nuriyev – Head of the ‘Constitution’ Research Fund

13. Zaur Mammadov – Chairman of the Baku Club of Political Scientists

14. Rey Gasimov – Chairman of the ‘Association of Landmine Victims in Azerbaijan’ Public Union

15. Hafiz Safikhanov – Chairman of the ‘Azerbaijan Campaign Against Landmines’ Public Union

16. Zaur Ibrahimli – Chairman of the “Priority” Social Economic Research Center Public Union

17. Khatai Alasgarov – “Dada Alasgar Home” Public Union

18. Konul Behbudova – Chairwoman of the ‘Karabakh Missing Families’ Public Union

19. Ayaz Mirzayev – Chairman of the ‘Azerbaijani Journalists Network’ Public Union

20. Dilgam Ahmad – Chairman of the ‘Chapar – Center for the Study of National Heritage’ Public Union

21. Haji Abdulla – Chairman of the ‘Zangezur’ Societies Public Union

22. Fariz Khalilli – Chairman of the “Miras” Public Association for the Promotion of Cultural Heritage

23. Umud Rahimoghlu – Chairman of the International Eurasia Press Fund

24. Mubariz Asgarov – Chairman of the “Objective” Public Union for the Promotion of National Values

25. Shahla Naghiyeva – Chairwoman of the ‘Sonmez Mashal’ Cultural Relations Public Union

26. Tunzala Abdullalimova – Chairwoman of the ‘For the Motherland – Support to Families of Martyrs’ Public Union

27. Jeyran Hasanova – Chairwoman of the ‘Support to Mothers of Martyrs’ Public Union

28. Aqil Jamal – Chairman of the ‘Common Values’ Public Union

29. Vugar Gadirov – Chairman of the ‘Youth Organization for Return and Revival’ Public Union

30. Khalid Kazimov – Chairman of the Regional Human Rights and Media Center Public Union

31. Ahmad Abbasbayli – Chairman of the ‘Center for Development of Society’ Public Union

32. Irada Rzazada – Chairperson of the Public Union ‘For Social Well-being of Citizens’

33. Keramet Ismayilov – Chairman of the Public Union for Economic and Social Development

34. Fikret Yusifov – President of the “Economics” International Economic Research Public Union

35. Shalala Hasanova – Chairwoman of the ‘Support to the Development of Public Relations’ Public Union

36. Zarifa Guliyeva – Chairwoman of the Modern Development and Family Public Union

37. Mahluga Rahimova – Chairwoman of “Disabled Women’s Society” Public Union

38. Vusala Huseynova – Chairwoman of the Reformist Women and Innovations Public Union

39. Ilgar Huseynli – Chairman of the Social Strategic Studies and Analytical Research Public Union

40. Varis Yolchiyev – Director of the Azerbaijan Literary Fund

41. Samad Vakilov – Chairman of the “Muvakkil Law Center” Public Union

42. Jasarat Huseynzade – Chairman of the Public Union to Support Information and Social Initiatives

43. Elshad Eyvazov – Chairman of the Independent Journalists Public Union

44. Farida Mirishova- Chairwoman of the “Iz” Culture Development and Support Public Union

45. Lala Sardarli – “Support to the Protection and Promotion of Applied Art” Public Union.’

The date of the next court session in the criminal case against Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan has been announced.

Azernews reports that the trial will continue on February 10.

Vardanyan is charged under multiple articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and other serious offenses.

It should be recalled that the trial was postponed indefinitely on December 30. The postponement was due to the fact that the court panel – chaired by Judge Zeynal Agayev and composed of Judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov (with Gunel Samadova as reserve judge) – was engaged in hearings related to another criminal case involving 15 Armenian citizens.

Meanwhile, on February 5, the court delivered verdicts in a number of high-profile cases involving Armenian-origin war criminals. The following sentences were issued:

Arayik Harutyunyan – life imprisonment

Levon Mnatsakanyan – life imprisonment

David Manukyan – life imprisonment

Davit Ishkhanyan – life imprisonment

David Babayan – life imprisonment

Arkady Ghukasyan – 20 years in prison

Bako Sahakyan – 20 years in prison

Madat Babayan – 19 years in prison

The continuation of the Vardanyan trial comes amid an ongoing judicial process addressing crimes committed during Armenia’s occupation and the consequences of the conflict.

The world’s eyes are currently on US Vice President J D Vance’s visit to the South Caucasus and his talks with Yerevan and Baku, the parties that have been at war for more than 30 years. The visit also comes against a backdrop of Russia’s weakening presence in the region and rising tensions between Iran and the US.

Therefore, JD Vance’s expected visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan is more than a routine diplomatic stop. It reflects Washington’s renewed attention to the South Caucasus at a moment when the region’s strategic weight is quietly but decisively increasing. For a region long treated as peripheral, the symbolism alone is significant. Yet the visit also fits into a broader American recalibration that links security, energy and geopolitical balance at a time of shifting power dynamics.

At its core, the visit is about influence. The United States is seeking to reinforce its political footprint in the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process and to reassert itself as a relevant mediator. In recent years, peace talks were largely shaped by Brussels and Moscow. Under Donald Trump, however, Washington moved more assertively to reclaim a leading role, and that impulse appears to persist. Vance’s presence would signal that the US does not intend to be sidelined in decisions that will shape the post-war order in the South Caucasus.

Timing matters. The visit comes as Russia’s grip on the region weakens, Iran’s regional posture grows more assertive, and Europe’s energy security is being fundamentally redesigned. Against this backdrop, Azerbaijan occupies a dual role in Washington’s thinking: not only as a party to a conflict, but as a strategic partner in energy supply chains and east-west connectivity. This distinction explains why Baku features so prominently in American calculations, even as Washington balances its engagement with Yerevan.

The substance of Vance’s discussions is likely to centre first on the prospects for a peace agreement. Issues such as border delimitation and demarcation, the opening of regional communications, including the TRIPP framework, and mutual recognition of territorial integrity will be unavoidable. For the United States, peace is not simply a moral objective but a security guarantee. A stable South Caucasus reduces the risk of renewed violence that could draw in external powers and complicate American interests.

Security, however, goes beyond the peace table. Washington remains keen to prevent another military escalation and to shape the region’s evolving security architecture. In Armenia, this may involve discussions about recalibrating security dependence, reducing reliance on Russia and deepening cooperation with Western institutions. Such shifts are politically sensitive but increasingly unavoidable as Moscow’s credibility as a security guarantor erodes.

In Baku, the emphasis will almost certainly tilt towards energy and connectivity. The Southern Gas Corridor, green energy projects and the Middle Corridor linking Asia to Europe are all of strategic importance to the US and its allies. Vance is expected to underline Azerbaijan’s growing role in Europe’s energy diversification, a role that has gained urgency amid global supply disruptions and geopolitical fragmentation.

Regional dynamics will also hover over the talks. Iran’s policies and Russia’s declining influence are unlikely to be addressed head-on, but they will shape the tone and priorities of the discussions. Washington’s overriding objective is to prevent the South Caucasus from drifting into an anti-Western alignment. In this context, engagement with Azerbaijan is likely to remain pragmatic and balanced rather than ideological.

Taken as a whole, Vance’s visit appears less about transforming the status quo than about preserving it. The United States currently lacks the leverage to dictate a final settlement or reclaim a dominant mediating role. Yet the visit carries political weight. It is a signal to rivals, particularly Russia and Iran, that Washington remains present and attentive.

There is also a domestic dimension. Vance is widely viewed as a potential presidential contender, and outreach to influential constituencies matters. The Armenian lobby, Christian networks and Congress continue to wield considerable influence in US politics. Building goodwill in Yerevan may therefore serve both foreign policy and personal political calculations.

Ultimately, the visit should be read as a message rather than a breakthrough. It says less about imminent change and more about intent: the United States is reminding the region, and its competitors, that it still has a stake in how the South Caucasus evolves.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has strongly condemned a series of policy changes approved earlier by Israel’s security cabinet, which aim to overhaul land registration and property acquisition in the occupied West Bank, moves that would significantly deepen Israeli control over the territory, including sensitive religious sites, AzerNEWS reports.

According to a report published by the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency WAFA, Abbas’s office described the decisions as ‘dangerous’ and framed them as part of a broader campaign by the current Israeli government against the Palestinian people. The statement stressed that the measures are considered ‘null and void,’ carry no legal legitimacy, and will have no legal consequences from the Palestinian perspective.

The PA also called on the United States and the UN Security Council to urgently intervene and halt the implementation of these decisions, warning that they risk further destabilizing the situation on the ground.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that the cabinet had approved steps to declassify and publicize land registries in the West Bank, which are currently restricted. The move is widely seen as facilitating land claims and property acquisitions by Israeli entities.

In addition, Israeli agencies were granted authority over maintenance and construction at several highly sensitive religious sites, including the Tomb of the Patriarchs (Ibrahimi Mosque) in Hebron and Rachel’s Tomb near Bethlehem-both long-standing flashpoints due to their religious and political significance to Muslims, Jews, and Christians.

WAFA reported that Abbas’s office warned of the serious risks of infringing on Islamic and Christian holy sites, emphasizing that any transfer of authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque is ‘unacceptable.’ The Hebron compound is traditionally believed to be the burial place of the biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as the matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah.

The Israeli ministers also said the cabinet voted to overturn a Jordanian-era law-dating back to the period when Jordan controlled the West Bank between 1948 and 1967-that restricted land purchases in the territory to Muslims.

Furthermore, new decisions were announced to expand Israeli oversight over infrastructure, environmental regulation, and archaeological affairs in Areas A and B of the West Bank. Under the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, these areas fall under the civil authority of the Palestinian Authority, making the move particularly contentious.

Palestinian officials and analysts warn that the latest steps could further undermine the Oslo framework, intensify tensions in the West Bank, and complicate already stalled prospects for a negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Every industry has its stories, but few are as visually striking or as personally transformative as the world of oil.

For Nigar Manafli, years spent on offshore platforms were a source of memory, rhythm, and unexpected beauty. The shapes of machinery, the movement of workers, and the interplay of light and shadow on steel became imprinted in her mind, waiting to be translated into art.

This intimate perspective forms the heart of “The Heritage of Oil”, Nigar Manafli’s solo exhibition, recently opened at Baku’s D’Art Gallery.

Nigar Manafli graduated in 2013 from the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry with a degree in Geological Exploration. That same year, she began her professional career as one of the first Azerbaijani women well-logging specialists, working in geophysical well surveys on offshore platforms.

For seven years, the engineer-geologist worked directly on offshore platforms, participating in high-risk field operations that demanded exceptional responsibility and technical expertise under real oil production conditions.

In 2023, she was appointed Maintenance Superintendent at Central Azeri, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

In an interview with AZERNEWS, the artist shares how years spent working in the oil industry became the foundation for an unexpected artistic journey.

Drawing inspiration from one of Azerbaijan’s most vital and demanding sectors, her exhibition “The Heritage of Oil” pays tribute to the people behind the industry, those whose daily work combines technical precision, responsibility, and resilience.

The project features 29 artworks that reveal the hidden aspects of offshore life: the scale of operations, the rhythm of metal structures, silent responsibility alongside high risk, the power of storms, the quiet of night shifts, and the unspoken dialogue between humans and the sea.

“The Heritage of Oil” combines technical knowledge with personal memory, translating industrial heritage into a contemporary visual language and inviting viewers to reflect on the boundaries between technology and human experience.

The project represents one of the first public presentations of AI-based art in Azerbaijan, reinterpreting the country’s rich oil history through a personal and artistic lens.

Q: How did the idea for an exhibition inspired by the oil industry come about?

A: The idea grew out of my many years of experience working in the oil industry, directly on offshore drilling platforms. In essence, this project is a visualization of my personal memory. I spent many years working on the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli oil field, carrying out highly complex technical operations.

My work involved radioactive sources, irradiated materials, and high-pressure equipment, and I was responsible for supervising these processes. It is an extremely demanding and high-responsibility field, yet over time, I began to perceive a certain kind of beauty within this industry.

I felt a strong desire to capture fragments of my memories on canvas, transforming them into paintings. Today, the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence made this achievable. I used a digital art program for this purpose, as creativity has always been very important to me.

Unfortunately, our profession leaves very little free time, and traditional painting is a long and complex process. However, visualization is possible. I am genuinely happy that when my colleagues from the oil industry look at these works, they recognize themselves in them. One colleague recently said to me, “I see myself in these paintings.”

I believe that every oil worker can see a part of themselves in these works. In that sense, I feel my mission has been fulfilled, because creating precisely this kind of personified collection was my original intention.

Q: How do you see the role of artificial intelligence in contemporary art?

A: In this context, artificial intelligence is simply a tool. You tell it what you want to see in the final result. It does not dictate ideas, nor can it independently know what needs to be depicted.

The idea belongs entirely to the human being. Artificial intelligence is merely a means through which that idea can be realized, presented, and preserved as a form of memory.

Q: What projects are you planning to pursue in the near future?

A: To be honest, this project began as something deeply personal. I created several artworks for myself and displayed them in my office. My colleagues showed great interest, and over time, I began to expand the collection.

Last month, the management asked me to present my work at our staff party. At that time, the exhibition included only a small number of pieces. I brought them along and witnessed a strong response not only from colleagues, but also from their family members.

The event brought together people from very different professional backgrounds: for example, a husband working in the oil industry and a wife from a completely different field. Even they felt an emotional connection to the artworks. That moment sparked the idea of involving more oil workers and sharing this project with a wider audience.

These works speak volumes. And that is precisely why I decided to create a full-scale exhibition.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed two decrees enforcing decisions by the National Security and Defence Council to impose sanctions on 66 individuals and 62 legal entities, including citizens and companies linked to Russia, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan and the United Arab Emirates, AzerNEWS reports via Ukraine’s Presidential website.

According to official statements, the measures are designed to undermine Russia’s military-industrial and financial infrastructure, particularly networks involved in supplying components for missile and drone production and in helping Moscow bypass international sanctions.

The first decree targets 24 individuals and 27 companies connected to Russia’s defence industry. These entities are accused of supplying goods used in the manufacture of Russian missiles and drones, weapons that Ukraine says were deployed during overnight attacks into Saturday. Ukrainian officials stressed that such weapons systems rely heavily on foreign components, making external supply chains a critical vulnerability.

The second decree focuses on 42 individuals and 35 legal entities involved in Russia’s financial ecosystem, including those facilitating sanctions evasion imposed by Ukraine, the European Union and the United States.

Among those sanctioned is the A7 cryptocurrency network, which Ukrainian authorities say has been used to process payments for components used in Russian missile production. Measures were also imposed on organisations supporting Russia’s crypto market and industrial cryptocurrency mining, as well as on payment service providers, crypto exchanges and digital asset holders.

Ukrainian officials said parts of the measures are expected to be incorporated into the European Union’s upcoming 20th sanctions package, which is currently in its final stages and could be adopted by the end of the month.

‘Our approach is systematic and practical,’ said Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Advisor and Commissioner to the President of Ukraine for Sanctions Policy. ‘By targeting those who manufacture weapons for Russia and finance component supplies, we directly limit the capacity of Russia’s military-industrial complex.’

The Gabala Festival, widely recognised not only as a music event but also as a platform for intercultural dialogue, continued on 7 February with a chamber music evening titled ‘Baku-Naples: A Musical Bridge’ as part of the 2nd Winter Tale International Music Festival.

AzerNEWS reports that the concert took place at the Heydar Aliyev Congress Center in Gabala and brought together representatives of the festival’s organising bodies, local music enthusiasts and visiting guests. The programme symbolised the long-standing cultural friendship between Azerbaijan and Italy.

Before the concert, Zahra Guliyeva, Professor at the Uzeyir Hajibeyli Baku Academy of Music and People’s Artist of Azerbaijan, addressed the audience. She noted that the evening’s repertoire focused on the romance genre, featuring works by both Azerbaijani and Italian composers, and outlined the stylistic characteristics of this musical form.

The programme included Vincenzo Bellini’s Melancholia, Said Rustamov’s Intizar and Hardasan, Sevda Ibrahimova’s Wake Up, Bulbul, as well as several works by Tofig Guliyev, including I Am from Baku, Lyric Song, I Became Lucky, and Golden Ring. Also performed were Vasif Adigozalov’s Carnation and Song about Baku, Polad Bulbuloglu’s Happy Azerbaijan, alongside Italian classics such as Rodolfo Falvo’s Dicitencello vuje, Salvatore Cardillo’s Neapolitan song Katari, two romances by Francesco Paolo Tosti, and Cesare Andrea Bixio’s Parlami d’amore Mariù.

The concert featured performances by People’s Artists Farhad Badalbeyli, Murad Adigozelzade, and Honoured Artist Emil Afrasiyab on piano, alongside vocal soloists Afag Abbasova (soprano), Aytaj Shikhalizade (mezzo-soprano), Azer Zade (tenor), Mahir Tagizade (baritone) and Aysun Mahmudzade (soprano). Their performances were warmly received by the audience.

The evening concluded with all soloists performing Tofig Guliyev’s ‘Friendship Song.’

The Winter Tale International Music Festival will close on 8 February with a gala concert at the Heydar Aliyev Congress Center. Artists and dancers from Spain will headline a flamenco-jazz programme titled ‘Azerbaijan-Spain: Two Countries, One Music.’

The premiere of the animated series ‘Isi and Piti’ took place at the Ganja State Drama Theater.

Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva attended the event. The premiere was organized within the framework of the ‘ANIMAFILM in Ganja’ festival by the Azerbaijan Animation Association.

As part of the festival, alongside the premiere of two episodes of the educational children’s animated series ‘Isi and Piti,’ the short animated films ‘Bum-bum’ and ‘Earth and Moon’ were presented to the audience. Teachers from Ganja city’s preschool education institutions, as well as children attending these institutions, watched the animated films with great interest and enthusiasm.

The festival also featured the screening of the short animated film ‘Earth and Moon,’ a joint production by Azerbaijani and Uzbek animation specialists. The film explains to children the unity between humans and nature, highlights the impact of ecological problems on the planet, and calls on everyone to protect their homeland, Mother Nature, and the Earth.