Category: Azer News

The trial of Armenian national Ruben Vardanyan, charged under multiple articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan for crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and other grave offenses, continued on September 30, Azernews reports.

The open hearing was held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov, and reserve judge Gunel Samedova. The defendant was provided with interpretation into Russian, his native language, and was represented by a lawyer of his choosing.

At the outset, Judge Agayev introduced the court panel, state prosecutors, interpreters, and others involved in the proceedings to the victims and their legal successors appearing for the first time, and explained their rights and obligations under the law.

The court noted that interpreter Islam Agakerimov, who had previously participated in the preparatory hearings, had notified the court that he was unable to attend due to health reasons. Earlier, Vardanyan himself had requested Agakerimov’s participation, and the court had issued him a summons.

Defense attorney Avraam Berman requested access to the court session protocols and the provision of additional copies of decisions on defense motions. Judge Agayev replied that the defense would be granted access to the protocols and asked that they specify which rulings they sought copies of.

The hearing then continued with testimonies from victims and their legal successors.

Camal Heydarov, legal successor of victim Shair Heydarov, testified that his son was killed in Lachin as a result of enemy fire.

Sevinc Jalilova, mother of victim Devid Jalilov, stated that her son was killed in Aghdara due to fire from remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups.

Javanshir Zulfuqarov testified that his son was killed by enemy fire.

Farid Aliyev, son of victim Tofiq Aliyev, said his father was killed by sniper fire in Khankendi from remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian units.

Answering questions from Prosecutor Nasir Bayramov, Shirzad Samedov, brother of victim Siraj Abishov, stated that his brother was killed when an anti-tank mine exploded in the village of Susuzlug, Kalbajar. ‘My brother was an AzTV cameraman. Alongside him, AZERTAC correspondent Maharram Ibrahimov and Arif Aliyev, deputy head of the Susuzlug village administrative unit, were also killed. Four others were injured,’ he said.

Victim Elkin Mirzayev testified that he sustained shrapnel wounds in Khojaly from enemy fire.

Victim Rauf Huseynov said he was wounded when an enemy mortar shell exploded, killing several people nearby.

Victim Orkhan Baladov stated that he and several others were injured when their car was struck by a rocket in the village of Janyatag, Aghdara district.

Victim Eltun Mammadov said he was injured by enemy fire in Dashalti, Shusha.

Victim Mukhtar Aliyev testified that he was shot in the leg in Gulabli village, Aghdam, by enemy fire, in which another person was killed.

Victim Nazir Jalilov reported that he was wounded when his car came under enemy fire in Shusha district.

Victim Parvin Babayev said he was injured by artillery fire in Shusha.

Victims Emil Aliyev, Farhad Rzayev, and Ayyub Mammadov testified that they were wounded by enemy fire in the Kalbajar direction.

Answering Prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev’s questions, Vidadi Mammadov said he was wounded during mine clearance work in Lachin when the enemy opened fire.

Victim Raqif Aliyev stated that his car was hit by a rocket in Janyatag, Aghdara district, injuring him and several others and killing some people.

Victim Asgar Guliyev testified that he sustained injuries to his leg from enemy fire near Shusha, where several others were killed or wounded.

Other victims – Anar Aziz-zade, Aydin Verdiyev, Yunis Ismayilov, Valeh Mammadov, Ali Maharramov, Jeyhun Hasan-zade, Nicat Teymurov, Eltekin Hasanov, Yahya Guliyev, Arif Abbasov, Vusal Huseynov, Ali Alakbarov, Zaur Mammadov, Vasif Osmanov, Mehti Mursalov, and Alizamin Ismayilov – testified that they were wounded across different Azerbaijani regions due to provocations, gunfire, and mines planted by remnants of the Armenian army and illegal armed groups.

Medical forensic reports on the victims were also announced during the session.

The next hearing was scheduled for October 7.

Ruben Vardanyan faces charges under numerous articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, including: planning and waging aggressive war (Articles 100.1, 100.2), deportation and forced displacement (107), persecution (109), enforced disappearance (110), unlawful imprisonment (112), torture (113), mercenarism (114.1), violations of the laws and customs of war (115.2, 116 series), premeditated murder and attempted murder (120.2, 29.120.2), illegal entrepreneurship (192.3.1), terrorism (214.2, 214-1), creating a criminal organization (218.1, 218.2), illegal possession of weapons and explosives (228.3), acts endangering aviation safety (270-1), violent seizure of power (278.1), forming unlawful armed groups (279), and illegal border crossing (318.2).

A literary-musical gathering dedicated to the creativity of the prominent Azerbaijani poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan has taken place at the Cultural Centre of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Paris, Azernews reports.

Representatives of French literature and intellectual circles, poets and writers, as well as journalists, attended the literary gathering.

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to France, Leyla Abdullayeva, delivered a speech at the event, discussing Khurshidbanu Natavan, the famous 19th-century Azerbaijani poetess and daughter of the last ruler of the Garabagh Khanate. She spoke about Natavan’s rich creative work, her contributions to the development of Azerbaijani literature and art, as well as her charitable activities. The Ambassador provided the participants with insights into the life and legacy of this prominent female figure of her time.

At the gathering, French representatives, including Alain Tremolye, a graduate of the Marseille Conservatory of Dramatic Arts and a classical vocal performer, Fatima Chbiban, the president of the “Rives Méditerranéenes” cultural organization and author of six poetry collections, and Sitara Guliyeva, a literature theory student currently studying at the University of Strasbourg in the field of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean studies and a translator of literary works, spoke about Natavan’s literary contributions. They also recited her ghazals in both Azerbaijani and French.

The presentation of the ghazals was accompanied by Azerbaijani national music and mugham. The performance featured Elchin Naghiyev, the head of the Instrumental Performance Department at the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, playing the tar, and Elshan Mansurov, an associate professor at the Faculty of Arts at Garabagh University, a People’s Artist and master of the kamancha.

The harmonious blend of mugham and the poetic depth of the ghazals not only showcased the richness of Azerbaijani culture but also touched the hearts of the listeners.

At the end of the event, the participants of the Natavan poetry gathering took a commemorative photo in front of the statue of the prominent poetess located in the garden of the Cultural Center.

A large-scale transformation of the global energy system is essential if the world is to keep global warming within the 1.5°C target by 2030, said Azerbaijani Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov during the Baku Climate Action Week, Azernews reports.

Speaking at the event, Shahbazov outlined the scale of change required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

‘To stay on track with the Paris Agreement, the world must increase its renewable energy capacity to 11,000 gigawatts by 2030, expand energy storage to 1,500 gigawatts, build or upgrade 25 million kilometers of power grids, and develop new energy corridors connecting generation and consumption centers,’ the minister stated.

He noted that while 582 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity – referred to as “green power” – was added globally in the past year alone, this is not enough to meet the required pace of change.

‘According to IRENA, a 16.6% annual growth rate in renewable capacity is needed to achieve these targets,’ Shahbazov emphasized.

The minister also pointed out that a sustainable energy transition cannot succeed without significant investment in modern grids, storage systems, and efficient transmission infrastructure.

‘Advancing clean energy requires more than just increasing capacity – it demands smarter, more resilient systems to store and transmit energy reliably,’ he said.

The Baku Climate Action Week brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and climate experts to discuss concrete steps toward achieving global climate and energy goals. Azerbaijan is set to host the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), further positioning itself as a key player in the global energy and climate dialogue.

Since its inception in 2018 with ride-hailing solutions, Dubai based Yango Group has rapidly emerged as a global digital ecosystem including mobility, e-commerce, food delivery, fintech, entertainment, and more, across 30 countries in the Middle East, South Asia, Latin America, Africa and Europe. It focuses on transforming global technologies into everyday services by adapting cutting-edge solutions for each unique market.

In a special interview with Azernews, Adeniyi Adebayo, Chief Business Officer at Yango Group, and Mushvig Hasanov, Country Manager at Yango Azerbaijan, shared insights into Yango’s impressive journey, its rapid expansion across emerging markets, and the company’s forward-looking vision including Azerbaijani market.

Hyperlocality as one of the business development pillars

Adebayo explained that achieving scale in any business requires a strong foundation, much like building a tall structure: ‘The deeper the foundation, the more stories you can build. For Yango Group, this rests on four key elements: capital, technology, operations and local needs’.

Unlike many big tech companies that prioritized developed markets, Yango Group deliberately chose a different path. Seven years ago, the company committed to building in emerging markets, betting on their exponential growth potential. When Yango Ride entered Côte d’Ivoire in 2018, internet penetration was just 18%, smartphones cost roughly $1,000, and mobile internet data was prohibitively expensive. Yet, Yango saw what others missed: the rapid spread of Facebook and WhatsApp revealed pent-up demand for digitalisation, while falling device and mobile data costs would soon open the floodgates to more e-services. Today, smartphone penetration has risen to 70% and its cost has dropped fivefold, indeed opening up the market for explosive and rapid growth of digital platforms.

This philosophy of finding signals in hyperlocality has shaped Yango’s strategy and approach to market development. The company realised that ride-hailing is just one of the touchpoints in people’s daily lives. ‘The future is not in isolated services, the real opportunity lies in building a connected ecosystem – products that work together to make life more convenient and efficient, designed and localized for each market’. The results validate this thesis. Today, Yango operates in over 30 countries, enabling more than 2 million people to earn income through its platform, and serving over 50 million monthly users.

While many multinational companies struggle between offering a uniform international product or adapting locally, Yango prioritizes serving people where they are today, rather than expecting users to adapt to a global template. For instance, in Lima, Peru, where city zones form ‘mini cities’ due to social activity patterns, Yango designed mini zones within its app, allowing partner drivers to operate only within their preferred areas.

Another example is Pakistan, where Yango introduced a rickshaw tariff tapping into a cultural phenomenon deeply embedded in daily life. Rickshaws offer an affordable and flexible transport option, especially in the country’s busy urban areas. Yango also partnered with local artists to craft distinctive branding for the service, featuring vibrant artwork that reflects the community’s cultural essence. The goal was not only to promote this option but also to honor a deeply rooted tradition while making it easily accessible to users through the app.This approach embodies a broader philosophy: technology and products must adapt to users’ lives, not vice versa.

Hyperlocality then isn’t just about localization, it’s Yango’s way of turning global scale to local trust. ‘By embedding into communities, respecting local context, and creating services that feel like ‘our own’ in every market, our goal is to build foundations for enriching city living across the world’, says Adebayo.

He explained that Yango views its operations as part of broader ‘city services’ – how people move, pay, eat, and deliver in urban environments. The company actively brings together restaurants, taxi companies and transportation providers, delivery services, digital content providers, and more, helping them distribute through its platform. This inclusive philosophy makes partnerships fundamental to Yango Group’s DNA.

Partnership as the bedrock of growth

‘The company’s primary partnership is with the countries and cities where it operates, committing capital, innovation, and products to help digitize urban services and improve lives’ continues Adebayo. This foundational partnership extends to governments and citizens alike, ensuring services reflect local needs.

Yango is open to integrating its solutions directly into city infrastructure. In Lima, Bogotá and several other markets, Yango has partnered with local providers to install live bus tags, allowing residents to see in real time where buses are and when they will arrive. Since buses remain the backbone of urban transport in these cities, especially during rush hours, this simple integration has brought enormous convenience. Similar projects are under discussion in Baku and other cities.

Equally critical is Yango’s mapping and navigation infrastructure. Far from being an internal tool, Yango Maps is now widely used by partner taxi companies and integrated into city systems. By investing in the continuous local update of maps, traffic flows, and incident reporting, Yango not only helps drivers respond faster to road conditions but also provides cities with better visibility on how people move.

$100 million investments and forward-looking vision for Azerbaijani market

Yango Group has invested $100 million into the Azerbaijani market, underscoring its long-term commitment to the country’s digital transformation. Mushvig Hasanov, Country Manager at Yango Azerbaijan, highlighted the company’s rapid progress since its entry nearly three years ago: ‘We began with Yango Ride, and today Yango has grown into a super-app that streamlines everyday tasks. From ride-hailing to restaurant and grocery delivery, logistics, ‘Navigator’ for real-time traffic routing, and ‘Transport’ for public transit planning-everything is now available in one familiar app.’

This investment reinforces Yango’s role as both a technology partner and urban services enabler, bringing global innovation while tailoring solutions to Azerbaijan’s local needs.

Azerbaijan: a regional hub for innovation

State investigator Eva Bergqvist has submitted a new proposal that would make the use of illegal IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) services punishable by law for private individuals in Sweden. According to Bergqvist, as many as 15% of Swedish households currently access such services, which she describes as a serious and growing problem, Azernews reports.

The proposed legislation includes fines for end users and stricter penalties for those who provide or distribute illegal IPTV content. Authorities such as the police, public prosecutors, the Tax Agency, and the Swedish Patent and Registration Office are expected to ramp up their efforts in combating the issue.

The report also outlines technical and regulatory measures, including the possibility of blocking illegal streams at the IP level and restricting advertisements and payment services connected to such platforms. Similar approaches have already been implemented in several other European countries, such as the UK, Italy, and Germany.

Bergqvist stressed that illegal IPTV poses not only an economic risk to Sweden’s entertainment industry but also a potential national security threat. ‘One can only imagine news broadcasts manipulated with artificial intelligence-this isn’t just about pirated movies anymore,’ she warned.

Sweden’s Minister of Culture, Parisa Liljestrand, expressed strong support for the initiative, stating that the government intends to act swiftly. ‘We take this issue seriously and will move forward with the legislative process without delay,’ she said.

The popularity of illegal IPTV services has surged across Europe in recent years, largely due to the high cost of legal subscriptions and the growing demand for on-demand content. However, authorities are increasingly concerned that many of these services are linked to organized crime networks, money laundering, and even malware distribution. As governments begin to crack down, users may soon face real consequences for streaming pirated content from the comfort of their homes.

On September 30, an official welcome ceremony was held in Baku for the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, who arrived in the Republic of Azerbaijan for an official visit, Azernews reports.

A guard of honor was arranged for the President of Italy in the square, decorated with the national flags of both countries.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev welcomed President of Italy Sergio Mattarella.

The chief of the guard of honor reported to the President of Italy.

The national anthems of the Italian Republic and the Republic of Azerbaijan were played.

The guard of honor marched in front of President Ilham Aliyev and President Sergio Mattarella to the accompaniment of a military march.

UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT 2025) has kicked off in Barcelona, Spain, Azernews reports.

The Azerbaijani delegation, led by the Culture Minister Adil Karimli participates in the event.

During the speeches, the significance of the three-day conference was emphasized, and its goals were outlined.

The discussions also covered the tasks ahead and the necessary steps to address emerging challenges.

An interesting concert program was presented afterward.

Within the framework of the conference, Minister Adil Karimli held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Serbia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The discussions focused on cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Minister Adil Karimli also had a meeting with Gökhan Yazgi, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkiye.

As part of the conference, the “3rd High-Level Ministerial Dialogue of the Friends Group on Culture-Based Climate Action” was organized on September 29. Minister Adil Karimli gave a speech at this event.

Azerbaijan is set to significantly boost electricity production from renewable energy sources in the coming years, according to Rana Humbatova, Deputy Director of the State Agency on Renewable Energy Sources under the Ministry of Energy, Azernews reports.

Speaking at Baku Climate Action Week 2025, she highlighted that as of the end of 2024, the share of ‘green energy’ in the country’s energy mix has already reached 13.5% and is expected to grow further with the implementation of new projects.

Humbatova explained that Azerbaijan offers investors two main mechanisms for participation in the renewable sector: public auctions and direct negotiations. The first auction was held within the framework of COP29, where the Chinese company Universal won the rights to develop a 400 MW solar power plant at a competitive rate of just 3.54 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Strategic partners in Azerbaijan’s green energy drive include major international companies such as Masdar (UAE), ACWA Power (Saudi Arabia), and bp (UK). Notably, in 2023, a 230 MW solar power plant developed in partnership with Masdar was successfully commissioned, and another 240 MW wind power project with ACWA Power is scheduled to be launched in the near future.

Humbatova also emphasized that increasing the share of renewables will contribute not only to higher installed capacity but also to greater actual volumes of clean energy production across the country.

YouTube, owned by Google, has agreed to pay U.S. President Donald Trump $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit related to the suspension of his account following the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots. While Trump’s YouTube channel was not permanently deleted, he was banned from uploading new videos. His full access was only restored in 2023, Azernews reports.

With this settlement, Google becomes the last of the three major tech companies to resolve lawsuits filed by Trump in July 2021. At the time, he accused YouTube, Facebook (Meta), and Twitter (now X), along with their CEOs, of illegally censoring conservative voices and violating his right to free speech.

Earlier this year, Meta agreed to pay approximately $25 million in January, and X paid around $10 million in February to settle similar cases brought by Trump.

According to Trump’s legal team, the lawsuits weren’t just about restoring his accounts but about highlighting what he called the “danger Big Tech poses to free expression.” Interestingly, even after regaining access to these platforms, Trump has largely favored using his own social media network, Truth Social, which he launched in 2022 to promote what he calls an ‘uncensored alternative.’

These settlements suggest that the tech giants preferred to resolve the matter quietly rather than risk prolonged legal battles with significant political and reputational stakes.

AzInTelecom LLC, a subsidiary of AZCON Holding, is actively participating in the INMerge Innovation Summit 2025, one of the region’s largest innovation events, taking place at the Baku Congress Center. Over the two-day summit, AzInTelecom’s delegation has been engaging with representatives from local and international companies, discussing potential partnerships and collaboration opportunities, Azernews reports.

As part of its presence at the summit, AzInTelecom is operating an interactive booth in the exhibition area, where visitors can explore the company’s latest innovative services and digital products. Attendees can also participate in a digital prize wheel game, offering a chance to win branded giveaways while learning about the company’s cutting-edge solutions.

Held annually, the INMerge Innovation Summit is recognized as the region’s leading platform for corporate innovation. The summit aims to bring together top technology companies, public institutions, and private sector leaders from Azerbaijan and beyond to foster collaboration and innovation. This year’s summit features high-profile representatives from global tech giants such as Netflix, OpenAI, and NVIDIA, and has attracted over 1,000 founders, investors, corporate executives, and policymakers from more than 30 countries.

AzInTelecom delivers secure, scalable, and user-friendly digital services tailored to modern business needs. Its portfolio includes robust cloud solutions, next-generation digital signature and ID services, cybersecurity tools, and efficiency-driven digital platforms. By offering these technologies, AzInTelecom empowers organizations to lead in the digital transformation space across Azerbaijan and the broader region.