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The Baku Grave Crimes Court has continued hearings in the espionage case against French citizen Martin Ryan and Azerbaijani citizen Azad Mammadli, accused of spying for France and committing treason, respectively.

The trial, presided over by Judge Elmin Rustamov, featured the testimonies of several witnesses who provided detailed accounts of their encounters with the accused and the alleged network of foreign intelligence operations in Azerbaijan.

According to Azernews, witness K.Y., a former colonel of the State Border Service, testified that he met Martin Ryan in 2019 while attending French language classes at the World Business Centre in Baku. Ryan, who taught French there, allegedly expressed an unusual interest in K.Y.’s military background and personal details, including his residence and workplace.

Another witness, N.M., head of ‘Linguist’ LLC, confirmed that Ryan conducted language courses for several individuals, including employees of the State Security Service (STS) and the Russian Embassy in Baku.

Witness Z.M., who first met Ryan in 2008 during their university studies in France, said that upon returning to Azerbaijan, he introduced Ryan to Azad Mammadli, one of his students. According to Z.M., Ryan later connected Mammadli with French embassy officials, including Frederic Devos and Laurent Grandard, who allegedly sought to recruit Mammadli for secret cooperation with the French intelligence services. Z.M. testified that Ryan often spoke about his contacts within the French special services and held regular meetings with their agents in Baku.

Another witness, U.A., recounted meeting both accused individuals and confirmed that Ryan frequently inquired about Azerbaijan’s political landscape and foreign relations. U.A. also stated that he was approached by Laurent Grandard, then the first secretary of the French Embassy, who allegedly attempted to involve him in intelligence cooperation. According to his testimony, Ryan later warned him that Grandard and others at the embassy were engaged in recruiting local agents.

Additional witnesses, including H.A., R.B., and several others, described their interactions with Ryan in various contexts-ranging from professional dealings to casual meetings-highlighting his close connections to diplomatic circles and his cover as a language instructor and businessman.

The indictment presented in court outlines that Martin Ryan, allegedly acting under the direction of the French General Directorate for External Security (DGSE), sought information on Azerbaijan’s military capabilities, weapons production, foreign relations, and potential secret financial operations. His Azerbaijani associate, Azad Mammadli, is accused of providing assistance in these intelligence-gathering efforts.

Both Ryan and Mammadli were arrested by the State Security Service on December 4, 2023. Ryan, who served as the general director of ‘Merkorama’ LLC, faces charges under Article 276 (espionage) of the Criminal Code, while Mammadli is charged under Article 274 (treason).

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for November 24, when additional witnesses are expected to testify.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation stone for the Jabrayil City Mosque on October 28, Azernews reports.

Nariman Topchibashev, Director of ‘PMD Projects,’ briefed the President on the project.

The mosque will cover over 1,530 square meters and accommodate 615 worshippers simultaneously. The two-story building will provide separate spaces for men and women to perform prayers. In addition, the mosque will feature a community hall, parking lot, and gazebos. The height of the minarets will be 34.2 meters, while the dome will reach 22.6 meters.

Before the occupation, Jabrayil district had five mosques, more than 40 pilgrimage sites, and over 20 historical and architectural monuments. During the occupation, Armenian forces destroyed many of these historical and religious sites. Since the liberation of Azerbaijani territories, the state has undertaken extensive restoration and reconstruction work in Karabakh and East Zangezur, including the construction of new religious and cultural monuments. An example is the mosque built in 2017 in Jojug Marjanli village, modeled after the Shusha mosque.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel, Azernews reports.

“Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I sincerely congratulate you and all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Czech Republic.

I am confident that we will continue our joint efforts to strengthen interstate relations between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic and to expand our cooperation in areas of mutual interest for the well-being of our peoples.

I convey my best regards to you and wish your people lasting peace and prosperity,” the letter reads.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev inspected the progress of the second phase of Aghali village and attended the opening of Mammadbayli village in Zangilan district on October 28, Azernews reports.

The second phase includes the construction of 103 houses, of which 55 are two-room individual houses, and three are three-story, two-block ‘Townhouse’-type buildings containing 36 one-room and 12 two-room apartments.

Communication lines have been laid to all houses in the village. All residential and non-residential buildings have been supplied with gas, and combi boilers have been installed in the houses.

A park covering more than 2 hectares has also been established in the area. It will serve as an open recreation and entertainment zone for residents of Agali and Mammadbeyli villages, as well as guests. The park area is divided into five functional zones, with all necessary conditions created for children’s recreation, sports, and entertainment. Various trees and ornamental plants have been planted across the territory.

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Then, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of Mammadbayli village in Zangilan district.

The head of state was briefed on the facilities created in the village.

The village covers 51.6 hectares and includes 188 individual houses: 39 two-room, 55 three-room, 55 four-room, and 39 five-room units. Each home has a fenced yard, solar panels, and connections to water, electricity, gas, and high-speed internet. Internal roads are fully asphalted.

Two multifunctional non-residential buildings have been constructed, and administrative facilities, along with retaining and passage walls, are adorned with artistic designs that enhance the village’s visual appeal.

Situated near Aghali village, Mammadbayli is connected to it via a dedicated passage, ensuring economic efficiency and easy access to Agali’s infrastructure – including a 360-student secondary school, a 60-place kindergarten, a Family Health Center, household services, a service center, pharmacy, market complex, and other facilities.

After touring the village facilities, President Ilham Aliyev met with residents relocating to Mammadbayli and Aghali, personally presenting them with house keys.

On October 28, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited the Sabirabad Industrial Park to familiarize himself with the operations of the cotton processing plant of “Tashobasi” LLC, Azernews reports.

Organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, PASHA Holding, and PMD Projects, the creative team and weaving staff of Azerkhalcha OJSC are crafting the largest circular handmade carpet in the history of world carpet-making (diameter 22.17 m × 22.17 m), Azernews reports.

This magnificent carpet is intended for the Shusha Mosque. The carpet incorporates elements of the ‘X?tai’ design belonging to the Garabagh group. The main weaving process is taking place at the Ismayilli and Shabran workshops. The carpet, woven by 150 female weavers, has been in production since December of last year.

On October 27, Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of the IDEA Public Union, visited to observe the weaving process of this magnificent carpet. After familiarizing herself with the carpet, Leyla Aliyeva spent time with the weavers and contributed to the historic carpet by adding knots herself.

For information, it should be noted that a new and specially designed loom was ordered to complete the carpet. The two-story loom was custom-made for Azerkhalcha OJSC by a team of specialists invited from Iran.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev familiarized himself with the activities of the seed processing facility owned by ‘Azera Tokhumchulug’ Limited Liability Company (LLC) in the Sabirabad Industrial District on October 28, Azernews reports.

‘Azera Tokhumchulug’ LLC was registered as a resident of the Sabirabad Industrial District in 2021.

A facility for the production of standard and hybrid seeds has been established here using advanced Turkish technologies. Currently, several types of seed crops are produced at the facility. The facility has an annual production capacity of 500 tons of alfalfa seeds, 800 tons of hybrid corn, 350 tons of hybrid sunflower, 2,000 tons of barley, and 2,000 tons of wheat seeds. Seeds grown at the Sabirabad Pilot Agricultural Park, as well as those obtained from small, medium, and large farming enterprises in the region, are used as raw materials at the facility.

The facility, with a project value of 2.5 million manats, will provide 20 permanent jobs. It is planned to employ workers from Sabirabad and the surrounding districts.

Today marks the next stage of the ‘Great Return,’ President Ilham Aliyev said during his meeting with residents of Mammadbayli and Aghali villages in Zangilan district, Azernews reports.

Recalling that the ‘Great Return’ program was first launched in Zangilan district, the President added: ‘People have already been living in the first village, Aghali, for three and a half years. Excellent conditions have been created there and are being well maintained.’

The 15th meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Belarus is being held in Baku. The meeting is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister, Co-Chair of the Commission Samir Sharifov from Azerbaijan, and Deputy Prime Minister, Co-Chair of the Commission Natalya Petkevich from Belarus, Azernews reports.

The sides reviewed the progress of the Joint Action Plan for 2024-2025 and assessed cooperation in vocational education as an important direction of partnership. It was noted that personnel training will be conducted in Baku based on the Belarusian educational model under the speciality ‘Food Technology.’

At the meeting, it was emphasised that Azerbaijani companies have also contributed to the development of the Belarusian economy. The parties reviewed the results of the Commission’s activities and discussed the implementation of the bilateral Roadmap for cooperation covering 2024-2025.

Specific progress was reported in the fields of industry, agriculture, mechanical engineering, urban development, pharmaceuticals, vocational education, transport and logistics, trade, and investment.

The dynamics of trade turnover between the two countries were also analysed. It was noted that in 2024, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Belarus increased by 42 percent, reaching $506 million. Both sides underscored the need to further diversify trade, introduce new product and service categories, and make fuller use of transit and logistics opportunities

On October 28, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation stone for the ‘Shams’ and ‘Ufug’ Solar Power Plants, each with a capacity of 50 megawatts, in Shahvalli village of Jabrayil district, Azernews reports.

Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov briefed the head of state on the 50-megawatt ‘Shams’ Solar Power Plant.

This project is an important component of Azerbaijan’s ‘green energy’ strategy and marks the beginning of a new stage in the energy map of Jabrayil district.

In March 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Energy and Nobel Energy company on the construction of a 100 MW solar power plant, as well as cooperation in the production, sale, and consumption of electric energy. Subsequently, in April of this year, the Government of Azerbaijan signed investment agreements with Enerso Jabrayil LLC for the 50 MW ‘Ufug’ Solar Power Plant and with Clean Energy Jabrayil LLC for the ‘Shams’ Solar Power Plant projects.

Last year, 229 hectares of state land in Jabrayil were allocated for renewables-over 135 hectares for Clean Energy Jabrayil LLC and more than 93 hectares for Enerso Jabrayil LLC.

President Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation stone for the ‘Shams’ Solar Power Plant and then participated in the ground-breaking ceremony for the ‘Ufug’ Solar Power Plant.

The two plants are expected to generate 206 million kWh annually, saving 44 million cubic meters of natural gas and cutting emissions by 96,000 tons per year.

Of the output, 75 million kWh will go to Azerenerji OJSC; the remaining 131 million kWh will be sold directly to large consumers via virtual transmission contracts. Both facilities are slated for commissioning in 2027.