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Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR has opened its 100th filling station in Romania, marking a new milestone in its expansion in the European market.

The new station is located in Gala?i, an important economic and cultural centre in eastern Romania on the banks of the Danube River.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, SOCAR Vice President Anar Mammadov said the company had entered the Romanian market 15 years ago with the launch of its first SOCAR-branded filling station. Since then, its priorities have been to build a strong brand, provide high-quality products and services, and earn customer trust.

He noted that Romania held a special place in SOCAR’s strategy as one of the first EU countries where the company had invested under its brand.

SOCAR Petroleum SA CEO Ramin Aliyev said the company aimed to further strengthen its position in Romania and increase its market share in the coming years. He also highlighted investments in logistics infrastructure, including fuel storage facilities, which help ensure an uninterrupted supply to the company’s filling station network.

The new facility offers petrol and diesel products under the Nano brand, while its Nar café sells local goods and products imported from Azerbaijan. Dedicated sections promoting Azerbaijani products have also been established across SOCAR’s filling stations in the country.

SOCAR has been operating in Romania through its subsidiary SOCAR Petroleum SA since 2011. In 2025, the company recorded a turnover of 3.9 billion Romanian lei (approximately 750 million euros), up 9.7% year on year.

SOCAR currently operates three fuel storage depots in Romania and has invested 400 million lei (approximately 78.4 million euros) in the country’s economy to date.

Three candidates have been nominated for the position of Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman), including incumbent Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva.

The nominations were discussed at a meeting of the Azerbaijani Parliament’s Human Rights Committee on October 30.

The candidates are incumbent Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva; Jeyhun Garajayev, a former Constitutional Court judge and Doctor of Law; and Elshana Valiyeva, a Supreme Court judge and member of the Judicial Selection Committee under the Judicial-Legal Council.

Under Azerbaijani law, the Ombudsman is elected for a seven-year term, and the same person may not hold the position more than twice.

Aliyeva was elected Azerbaijan’s Ombudsman by the Milli Majlis on November 29, 2019, from among three candidates nominated by the country’s president.

The president submits three candidates to parliament for consideration 30 days before the incumbent Ombudsman’s term expires. The Milli Majlis must then decide on the appointment of a new Ombudsman within 15 days.

The Ombudsman is prohibited from engaging in political activities, belonging to a political party or serving in the leadership of a non-governmental organisation. Within five working days of being elected, the appointee must cease any activities incompatible with the position.

Upon election, the Ombudsman takes an oath before the Milli Majlis, pledging to uphold the Constitution and laws, discharge official duties with honour and dignity, and act independently and impartially.

To qualify for the position, a candidate must be an Azerbaijani citizen aged at least 30, hold a higher education degree, have experience in human rights protection and demonstrate high moral standards.

The law also establishes restrictions on eligibility. Individuals holding dual citizenship, having obligations to another state, serving in the legislative, executive or judicial branches of government, or engaging in other paid employment beyond scientific, teaching and creative activities are ineligible. The position is also closed to individuals declared legally incapable by a court and those convicted of serious or particularly serious crimes.

Economic relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia are one of the key pillars of the strategic partnership between the two countries, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said.

Kobakhidze made the remarks at the 11th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Georgia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, held in the Georgian town of Sighnaghi.

The prime minister stressed the particular importance of strengthening peace and stability in the South Caucasus, maintaining peaceful coexistence and continuing dialogue amid ongoing geopolitical changes in the region.

He welcomed the peace process launched between neighbouring countries, expressing hope that peace initiatives in the region would continue and create new opportunities for economic development.

According to Kobakhidze, strong relations and high-level political dialogue between Azerbaijan and Georgia provide an opportunity to make greater use of the potential of bilateral economic cooperation.

He emphasised that the two countries aim to increase the trade potential of Georgian products, diversify economic ties and expand investment activities.

On October 29, the Second International Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Current Issues in Azerbaijani Weapon Studies’ opened at the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum. Dedicated to the sixth anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War, the event is organised by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, and the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts (ASUCA).

At the opening ceremony, welcoming speeches were delivered by Amina Malikova, Director of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, PhD in Art History and Honoured Cultural Worker; Sevil Karimova, Vice-Rector for International Relations at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts (ASUCA), PhD in Art History and Associate Professor; Alev Kuru Çakmakoglu, Professor at Gazi University; and Sabuhi Ahmadov, PhD in History. The speakers emphasised the importance of expanding scholarly research into the history of Azerbaijani weapon studies from ancient times to the present day, promoting the exchange of information on Azerbaijani weapons, and identifying new avenues for research.

The conference programme features academic sessions on the following topics: ‘New Research in Azerbaijani Weapon Studies’; ‘Challenges in the Preservation, Restoration and Display of Historical Weapons’; ‘The Place and Role of Historical Weapons in Art’; and ‘Historical Weapons as an Integral Part of Azerbaijani Artistic Craftsmanship: Reviving Tradition’.

The event brings together specialists from various research and educational institutions and museums in Azerbaijan and Trkiye, as well as independent researchers, who are presenting papers on current issues in weapon studies. Participants are also exchanging views and expertise, discussing ways to strengthen academic ties, opportunities for joint research projects, and prospects for international cooperation in promoting the study of Azerbaijani weapons.

During the conference, the latest issue of the IRS – Heritage journal, dedicated to Azerbaijani weapon studies, was presented.

The conference proceedings have been prepared in digital format and will be made available on the relevant platform of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts.

The conference will conclude on October 30.

Baku has hosted another series of creative exhibitions under the title ‘Summer Dreams’ as part of the project ‘Be at One with Nature, Share Its Beauty!’, according to a statement by the Khatai Arts Centre.

The project aims to bring younger generations closer to nature, introduce them to its remarkable beauty throughout the seasons, and encourage an interest in environmental protection.

The exhibition featured artworks inspired by the atmosphere of summer, landscapes, the colours of nature, summer dreams and memorable moments from summer holidays. More than 1,300 works were submitted by over 900 Azerbaijani and international artists aged between 8 and 21.

The selection process took into account the subject matter and format of the submitted works. Although many participants had two or more pieces selected, the organisers applied the principle of ‘one work per artist’. As a result, more than 600 artists were given the opportunity to participate in the exhibition.

The exhibition was organised into age groups and held in two daily sessions, at noon and 4 p.m. Participants received certificates in recognition of their involvement.

The exhibition also attracted young artists from abroad. Under the same participation rules, 33 artists from Moldova, 25 from Trkiye, 14 from Serbia, 13 from Croatia, eight from Russia, three from Belarus, three from Taiwan, two from Iran and two from Bulgaria took part.

International participants whose works were included in the exhibition catalogue will receive electronic certificates.

The exhibition catalogue is available online.

The event was organised by the Azerbaijan Artists’ Union, the Azerbaijan State Art Gallery, the Khatai Children’s Art Gallery and the Khatai Arts Centre, with support from the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting CJSC, the Khatai District Executive Authority and the Artists’ Union of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

The organisers expressed confidence that the project would contribute to environmental protection and help younger generations develop a stronger connection with the natural world.

Trend.Az, Day.Az, Milli.Az and Azernews.Az provided media support for the project.

Russian citizens dominated foreign real estate purchases in Azerbaijan during the first nine months of 2026, accounting for more than 71% of properties acquired by foreign nationals.

According to the State Service for Property Issues under the Ministry of Economy, 824 real estate properties were purchased by foreigners between January and September 2026, with Russian citizens acquiring 588 units, or 71.4% of the total.

The figures were provided by the agency in response to a media inquiry.

Georgian citizens ranked second with 80 property purchases, representing approximately 9.7% of the total, followed by Turkish citizens with 51 properties, or 6.2%.

Together, buyers from Russia, Georgia and Trkiye accounted for 719 properties, equivalent to approximately 87.3% of all foreign purchases during the reporting period.

Citizens of Iran purchased 17 properties, followed by Kazakhstan with 14, Germany with 12, Albania with eight, Israel with seven, and the United States and Pakistan with six each.

Buyers from Iraq and Ukraine acquired five properties each, while Belarusian citizens purchased four and Uzbek citizens three.

Citizens of Austria, the United Kingdom, China, Estonia, France and the Netherlands acquired two properties each. Buyers from the Czech Republic, Afghanistan, Sweden, Canada, Norway and Kyrgyzstan purchased one property each.

The latest figures follow a similar pattern recorded over the previous five years.

According to earlier data from the State Service for Property Issues, 6,182 citizens from 57 countries acquired a combined 6,913 properties in Azerbaijan between 2021 and 2025.

Russian citizens accounted for 4,638 of those properties, followed by Georgian citizens with 716 and Turkish citizens with 312.

Representatives of the Azerbaijan National Anti-Doping Agency (AMADA) have participated in an international webinar titled ‘Quality of Operations and Innovation’, organised by the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organisations (iNADO) as part of its ‘Guiding Principles for the Future of Anti-Doping’ series.

AMADA Executive Director Tahmina Taghi-zade delivered a presentation titled ‘Innovation in Anti-Doping: Responsible Use of Education and Artificial Intelligence for Clean Sport Achievements’.

Her presentation focused on innovative approaches to anti-doping education, developing athletes’ potential and the responsible application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Taghi-zade emphasised the importance of moving beyond traditional educational models, which largely focus on prohibitions and informing athletes about the consequences of anti-doping rule violations. Instead, she advocated a more comprehensive approach aimed at fostering a culture of clean sport and helping athletes achieve high performance without resorting to prohibited substances or methods.

One of the key topics of the presentation was the CLEAN concept, which brings together five interconnected areas:

Individual assessment of athletes.

Rational management of training loads.

Scientifically informed provision of energy and essential resources to the body.

Recovery and adaptation processes.

Psychological preparation and improved anti-doping awareness.

A separate section of the presentation explored how artificial intelligence could help personalise anti-doping education. Participants discussed the potential for developing adaptive educational programmes tailored to athletes’ ages, sporting disciplines and preferred languages.

The AMADA Executive Director also stressed the importance of ensuring that new technologies are used responsibly. She highlighted the need to protect personal data, maintain algorithmic transparency and ensure meaningful human oversight of decisions supported by artificial intelligence.

The international webinar was moderated by Rufat Efendiyev, Deputy Executive Director of AMADA. He emphasised that the quality of anti-doping activities should be assessed not only through the efficiency of organisational processes but also through their practical value to athletes, the accessibility of educational resources and the ability of anti-doping organisations to adapt to technological change.

Representatives of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), the Korea Anti-Doping Agency (KADA), the anti-doping organisation of Timor-Leste and Swiss company Berlinger also took part in the webinar.

Participants exchanged expertise and insights on scientific support for anti-doping activities, data analysis, institutional development, quality assurance and technological innovation.

Vugar Suleymanov, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), has met with a delegation led by General Miroslav Lorinc, Chief of the General Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan.

According to ANAMA, the delegation was briefed on the agency’s history and activities, the scale of the mine problem in Azerbaijan, its consequences, and the progress of humanitarian demining operations in the liberated territories.

It was emphasized that clearing the liberated territories of mines and other explosive ordnance is crucial to ensuring public safety, implementing infrastructure projects, restoring economic activity, and sustainably advancing the Great Return process.

The sides also exchanged views on potential areas of future cooperation, possible Slovak support for humanitarian demining efforts in Azerbaijan, training programmes, the exchange of experience and expertise, and other issues of mutual interest.

As the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) convenes its 13th Summit in Ankara on October 30, attention is turning not only to the organisation’s growing ambitions in trade, energy and regional connectivity, but also to the future role of one of its most distinctive European partners: Hungary.

The summit, hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan under the theme “Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Deed,” brings together leaders and representatives of member and observer states to discuss political cooperation, investment, transport connectivity, energy security and regional developments. The gathering also marks the transfer of the OTS chairmanship from Azerbaijan to Trkiye.

For Hungary, an observer state of the organisation, the meeting comes at a politically significant moment. The country underwent a major leadership change following its April 2026 parliamentary elections, which ended Viktor Orbán’s 16-year premiership and brought Péter Magyar and his Tisza party to power.

Under Orbán, Budapest cultivated particularly close political relations with the Turkic world, positioning itself as a European partner for Trkiye, Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries. Hungary’s engagement with the OTS became a visible element of its foreign policy, reflecting a broader interest in diversifying diplomatic partnerships and strengthening economic connections beyond the European Union.

The transition to Magyar’s government has consequently raised questions about whether Budapest intends to maintain the same level of engagement. Hungary retains its observer status, but the new leadership’s longer-term approach to the organisation has yet to become fully clear.

Speaking to AzerNEWS, Professor Laszlo Vasa of Széchenyi István University argued that Hungary’s relations with the Turkic world should be regarded as a long-term strategic interest rather than a foreign policy initiative associated exclusively with the previous government.

“Hungary’s relations with the Turkic world have a strategic value which goes beyond any single government. Under Viktor Orbán, Hungary became a particularly active observer in the Organization of Turkic States. This brought political visibility, but also helped to develop trust and create opportunities for economic cooperation. In my view, these achievements deserve to be continued, even if the new government chooses a different political language.”

Addressing the uncertainty surrounding Budapest’s future participation, Vasa cautioned against interpreting a less visible diplomatic presence as evidence of a definitive withdrawal from cooperation with the organisation.

“The approach of the new Hungarian leadership towards the OTS is still an open question. Less visible participation creates uncertainty, and our Turkic partners understandably would like to see clearer signals from Budapest. However, I would be careful about interpreting this as a final decision to step back. My hope is that, as the government defines its foreign policy priorities, it will recognise the long-term importance of these relations.”

The question of Hungary’s strategic positioning is particularly relevant as the European Union seeks to strengthen its economic connections with Central Asia and the South Caucasus. Transport diversification, energy partnerships and the development of the Middle Corridor have increased the importance of cooperation between European and Turkic countries.

In this context, Vasa suggested that Hungary’s European commitments and its relationships with the Turkic world need not be treated as competing foreign policy objectives.

“From a Hungarian perspective, closer cooperation with the Turkic world and a strong commitment to the European Union can support each other. The growing importance of Central Asia and the South Caucasus in energy, transport and trade makes this connection increasingly useful for Europe as well. Hungary has an opportunity to contribute through its knowledge of the region, established contacts and economic partnerships.”

However, the professor stressed that preserving Hungary’s position as a bridge between the European Union and the Turkic world would require continued diplomatic engagement and practical cooperation.

“At the same time, being a bridge requires active work. Geography alone is not enough. Hungary needs regular political dialogue, business cooperation, university partnerships and a visible presence in the institutions where regional priorities are discussed. If we reduce our engagement for a longer period, other countries will naturally take up these opportunities. The Turkic world is developing quickly, and it will continue to move forward.”

Turning to the potential consequences of Hungary’s change of government for existing energy and trade partnerships, Vasa distinguished between the continuity of established commercial commitments and the political support necessary to pursue new projects.

According to the professor, a shift in domestic political leadership does not necessarily undermine agreements already concluded between governments, businesses and investors.

“Regarding energy and trade, a change of government does not automatically interrupt existing cooperation. Commercial agreements, investments and infrastructure projects usually have a much longer horizon than an electoral cycle. Their continuation depends on legal commitments, economic interests and the decisions of the companies involved. Also, many partnerships are organised bilaterally, while the OTS provides a supportive political framework.”

Nevertheless, he warned that prolonged uncertainty over government priorities could affect the development of future partnerships, even where existing projects remain unaffected.

“Nevertheless, political attention matters. Existing projects may continue, but new investments and agreements can lose momentum when government priorities become unclear. This is where uncertainty can have a real cost, even without any formal withdrawal or cancellation.”

Vasa also highlighted the practical opportunities that cooperation with Azerbaijan, Trkiye and Central Asian countries continues to offer Hungary, particularly in energy security and transport connectivity.

“I remain cautiously optimistic. Cooperation with Trkiye, Azerbaijan and the Central Asian states offers Hungary practical opportunities in energy security, access to markets and transport connectivity, including the Middle Corridor. These are national interests which should be recognised across party lines.”

Looking ahead, the professor expressed hope that Budapest would develop its own approach to cooperation with the OTS while preserving the diplomatic relationships established under the previous administration.

“My expectation is that the new government will eventually develop its own approach to the OTS while preserving the trust already built. The Ankara Summit is an opportunity to underline that the Turkic world remains an important partner for Hungary and that there is still considerable room to develop this relationship.”

Azerbaijan Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev met with Abdul Halim Aman, chairman of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, on October 30 during the latter’s visit to Azerbaijan for the Third High-Level Meeting of Heads of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States, held in Baku.

The Prosecutor General’s Office reported that during the meeting, Aliyev provided information on large-scale reforms implemented in Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, measures taken to enhance transparency and accountability in public administration, strengthen the fight against corruption, and the results achieved in these areas.

The sides highlighted the contribution of the friendly relations and political ties between Azerbaijan and Malaysia, as well as their cooperation on international platforms, to the development of law enforcement relations.

Aliyev welcomed the participation of delegations from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre in the sixth Plenary Meeting of the GlobE Network and the 10th meeting of its Steering Committee, held in Baku in May 2025 and co-organized by the Prosecutor General’s Office and the UN GlobE Network.

The importance of cooperation between the Azerbaijani prosecution service and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy (MACA), operating under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, was also emphasized. It was noted that Azerbaijani prosecutors’ participation in the academy’s training and educational programmes helps strengthen their professional knowledge and practical skills, acquire advanced international experience, and apply it in their work.

Abdul Halim Aman congratulated Azerbaijan on the successful organization and high-level hosting of the third OIC meeting of heads of anti-corruption law enforcement authorities. He thanked the Azerbaijani side for its warm welcome and hospitality and shared his impressions of the country’s development.

The meeting also addressed the signing of a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for cooperation between the agencies, as well as the organization of mutual study visits. The sides reached preliminary agreements on these initiatives.

The parties further exchanged views on organizing specialized training and certification programmes on the investigation and prosecution of corruption offences with the support of MACA, as well as developing cooperation in other areas of mutual interest.

Following the meeting, the delegation visited the History Museum of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan, where guests were briefed on the history of the Azerbaijani prosecution service, its activities in different periods, and its modern development.