AGP Executive Report

Azerbaijan Media & Rights: Azerbaijan’s court sentenced nine Toplum TV journalists and civil society figures to 12–15 years in the “Toplum TV case,” drawing fresh international condemnation over a crackdown on independent media. Regional Security: US President Donald Trump vowed to “hit Iran hard” after Iran reportedly fired missiles at US bases in Jordan; Jordan said it intercepted five missiles as US-Saudi strikes hit Iran-aligned forces in Iraq. Diplomacy & Defense: Crown Prince Al Hussein attended the conclusion of the joint tactical “Zulfiqar” exercise in Jordan, with Turkish, Azerbaijani and Pakistani special forces taking part. Foreign Relations: Serbia and Azerbaijan held bilateral political consultations in Belgrade, focusing on deepening ties in economy, infrastructure, energy and culture. Sports Spotlight: An Armenian wrestler who won gold at the World Championship in Baku thanked Azerbaijan for organizing the event at a high level. Tech & Education: Azercell and ADA University launched the AI4Real Bootcamp to train undergraduate students in practical AI skills.

Media Freedom: Azerbaijan’s courts handed down harsh sentences in the Toplum TV case, with CPJ condemning up to 15 years for nine journalists and media-linked figures, as appeals and hearings continue. Diplomacy: Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met Germany’s newly appointed ambassador, while Milli Majlis Speaker Sahiba Gafarova arrived in Ethiopia for an official visit and talks with parliament leaders. China Ties: In Baku marking the 99th anniversary of the PLA, China’s ambassador said Beijing is ready to deepen military cooperation with Azerbaijan’s armed forces. Regional Security: Azerbaijan’s Baku Court of Appeal continued proceedings on appeals by Armenian defendants tied to war-crimes convictions. Trade & Transport: Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan discussed expanding the Middle Corridor, including ferry and road freight plans and a proposed subsea fiber-optic cable across the Caspian. Energy/Finance: Moody’s reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s investment-grade Baa3 rating, citing strengthening diversification and SOFAZ’s growing buffers.

Media Freedom Crackdown: An Azerbaijani court in Baku convicted nine journalists and activists tied to Toplum TV, handing sentences from 11 to 15 years over alleged financial crimes, a move rights groups call politically motivated to silence independent reporting. Detention Conditions: Opposition figure Tofig Yagublu says power and water outages in Baku’s N17 colony have worsened detention conditions for about a week, with health concerns continuing. Diplomacy & Regional Ties: President Ilham Aliyev and Russia’s Vladimir Putin reaffirmed plans to expand cooperation after a phone call, while Azerbaijan’s Deputy FM Fariz Rzayev met Serbia’s Deputy Parliament Speaker Marina Ragus to boost parliamentary links. Legal Cooperation: Azerbaijan ratified a treaty with Ukraine on legal assistance in civil and commercial matters, signed in Gabala in April. Sports & Youth: Baku hosted the U-17 World Wrestling Championships, with officials highlighting Azerbaijan’s growing role as a major event venue.

Azerbaijan–Pakistan Economic Push: Outgoing envoy Khazar Farhadov said talks on planned investment in Pakistan’s energy sector are expected to turn into concrete projects soon, as both sides review progress on trade, transport, tourism and the Pakistan–Azerbaijan Joint Commission and Preferential Trade Agreement. Media Tensions With Iran: Azerbaijan’s MEDIA hit back after Iran labeled AzTV “enemy media,” banning Sahar TV and Mehr News Agency in Azerbaijan in a reciprocity move. Court and Rights Crackdown: An Azerbaijani court jailed independent journalists and NGO workers tied to Toplum TV for “smuggling,” drawing sharp criticism from press groups. Digital Trade Boost: eTIR launched across the Caspian for the Middle Corridor, with fully digital TIR operations linking Azerbaijan–Turkmenistan–Uzbekistan under one procedure. Real Estate Processing: VTB said it will create a registry of cadastral engineers to speed up real estate transactions and reduce land boundary and document discrepancies. F1 in the Region: Petronas clarified it only holds Sepang circuit naming rights and doesn’t control ticketing, as Malaysia hosts the rescheduled Bahrain GP on Oct 2–4, 2026. Sports Transfers: Sabail FK signed Ghanaian midfielder Ezekiel Morgan on a two-year deal.

Courtroom Appeals: Baku Court of Appeal continued hearings on appeals by Armenian nationals convicted by a Baku Military Court, with prosecutors presenting arguments and the panel ensuring interpreters and defense rights. Media Crackdown: Azerbaijan sentenced Toplum TV founders, journalists and media actors to jail terms up to 15 years in a case Reuters says has raised Western press-freedom concerns; EFJ-IFJ called for immediate releases. Iran-Azerbaijan Media Row: Azerbaijan’s Media Development Agency hit back after Iran added AzTV to its “hostile media” list, warning of reciprocal steps and declaring some Iranian outlets illegal in Azerbaijan. Sports Diplomacy: Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed a youth wrestling cooperation deal covering training, coaching exchanges and athlete development as Baku hosts the U17 World Championships. F1 Calendar Shift: Formula 1 confirmed the Bahrain GP will be held in Malaysia at Sepang on Oct 2-4, with Malaysia saying it won’t pay FIA registration fees and only expects track upgrades. Trade & Logistics: Azerbaijan’s exports to the EU reached $8.04bn in H1, and Baku will host the Black and Caspian Freight Forum in September to spotlight the Middle Corridor.

F1 Calendar Shake-Up: Formula 1 has confirmed the Bahrain Grand Prix will be held at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit from October 2–4, 2026, slotted between Azerbaijan’s Sept. 26 race and Singapore’s Oct. 11 round, after the April Bahrain event was canceled amid Middle East tensions. Diplomacy & Local Impact: Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim said the move reflects long-standing Bahrain–Malaysia ties and that the country is ready to welcome teams and fans, while Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expects major tourism and investment benefits. Travel Push: AirAsia launched a snap sale to Kuala Lumpur timed to the rescheduled race, offering flight and hotel packages from major Australian cities. Sports in Baku: Four Azerbaijani referees were appointed for the U17 World Wrestling Championships in Baku (July 27–Aug 2). Culture Spotlight: At San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel confirmed British actor David Jonsson as the next Black Panther in “Black Panther 3” (Dec. 15, 2028), with Winston Duke and Letitia Wright returning.

Labour & Skills Ties: Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Labour and Social Protection met Pakistan’s Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training, discussing a memorandum on vocational training cooperation, plus labour migration, employment, and human capital development. Energy Diplomacy: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told President Ilham Aliyev in Berlin that Germany wants more gas from Azerbaijan, as Aliyev reaffirmed Baku’s readiness to boost supplies to Europe under a strategic partnership declaration. Regional Transport: Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan said work is underway on a railway freight terminal and that Azerbaijani and Iranian investors are especially interested in agriculture and transit cooperation. Rail Disruption: A Baku–Tbilisi passenger train was delayed after a power disruption in Georgia’s Gardabani–Tbilisi rail section; passengers could disembark in Gardabani and the train later arrived in Tbilisi about 2.5 hours late. Sports—Football: Zambian winger Kenneth Kalunga has joined Azerbaijan Premier League club Kapaz on a one-year deal. Sports—Judo: Azerbaijan’s U-16 judokas won first-day titles at the European Judo Hopes Tournament in Azerbaijan. Deposit Insurance Update: Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund says 83% of active bank deposits are protected and is expanding online payment options for compensation processes.

Black Panther 3: Marvel confirmed Ryan Coogler returns to direct and David Jonsson (The Long Walk) will play a grown-up T’Challa’s son, Prince T’Challa II, with Letitia Wright and Winston Duke also set to reprise; the film is scheduled for Dec. 15, 2028. Media & Youth Skills: Azerbaijan’s Summer Fest 2026 ran a “Media and Digital Literacy” camp in Baku, training young people on trusted information, safe digital practices, and ethical AI use ahead of National Press Day. F1 Calendar Shock: With Bahrain’s race still disrupted by regional conflict, sources say Malaysia’s Sepang Circuit will host a stand-in in October, with an official announcement expected soon. Regional Transport: A Baku–Tbilisi passenger train was delayed after a power outage in Georgia, with passengers allowed to disembark in Gardabani and the trip later resuming. Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Talks: Pashinyan and Macron discussed the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, stressing the need for lasting stability in the South Caucasus. Sports: Azerbaijan’s U-18 men’s basketball team notched its first group win at the European Championship.

Transport Disruption: A power outage in Georgia’s Gardabani–Tbilisi rail section delayed the Baku–Tbilisi passenger train by 2 hours 30 minutes, with passengers allowed to disembark in Gardabani. Diplomacy & Trade: Iran’s ambassador in Baku said Azerbaijani investors are eyeing agriculture and that follow-up work in Baku is underway on an Iranian-Azerbaijani railway freight terminal to boost transit ties. Regional Peace Talks: Kazakhstan’s Tokayev told Putin the Russia-Ukraine war should be “frozen” and pushed back toward the Istanbul negotiation format, while noting the conflict’s origins are harder to grasp than the Armenia-Azerbaijan dispute. Armenia-Azerbaijan Pressure: France and Armenia’s Pashinyan discussed the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process with Macron, as concerns also grow over reports of injuries among Armenian detainees. Finance Protection: Azerbaijan’s Deposit Insurance Fund says 83% of individual deposits in active banks are protected, and it is moving toward faster compensation payments. Sports (Local): Azerbaijan’s U-18 men’s basketball team beat Ukraine 77-68 for their first group win at the European Championship, with a next match vs Iceland on July 26. Energy/Markets: Azerbaijan’s Azeri Light crude price was reported around $102.73 per barrel, alongside updates on deposit payouts and wider regional logistics.

Diplomacy & Governance: President Ilham Aliyev signed the Law “On Crowdfunding,” setting rules for equity- and debt-based crowdfunding platforms, and approved amendments to create a Permanent Settlement Fund in liberated territories to relocate IDPs and transfer ownership. Public Safety: Azerbaijan’s Emergency Ministry urged strict fire-safety compliance as weekend heat is expected to reach up to 41°C, warning about electrical overloads and open-flame risks. Justice & Security: Azerbaijan reported 33 extradited defendants this year and 15,420 crimes registered in the first half of 2026, with 90.7% solved; it also said mine and UXO explosions linked to Armenian actions killed 2 and injured 11 in the same period. Courts: The Baku Court of Appeal continued hearings on appeals by Armenian nationals convicted by the Baku Military Court, with prosecutors presenting arguments. Energy & Economy: Azeri Light crude jumped 8.5% to $109.10 per barrel, while the EBRD said its Azerbaijan portfolio reached 892 million euros as of June 30. Transport: Passenger capacity on the Baku–Tbilisi–Baku trains rose about 120% after adding more coaches, reflecting strong demand. Culture & Media: Turkish pop stars EDIS and Emre Altuğ received stars at Baku’s Sea Breeze Walk of Fame, and a reception welcomed Azerbaijani journalists in Kyrgyzstan.

Diplomacy & Appointments: Azerbaijan recalled Rashad Mammadov as ambassador to Türkiye and appointed him ambassador to Uzbekistan, while Rashad Aslanov was named Azerbaijan’s new ambassador to Türkiye. Energy & Trade: Azerbaijan and Russia discussed agricultural cooperation and Caspian water challenges, including irrigation modernization and drought-resistant crop trials. Digital Payments: The Central Bank of Azerbaijan met Visa to expand secure digital payments, cut acceptance costs, and strengthen fraud prevention and risk management. Culture & Heritage: Azerbaijan presented its SECURE model for post-conflict cultural recovery at UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, and Dream Fest 2026 kicked off on the Caspian coast with major performances. Justice & Rights: Prosecutors sought long prison terms for election-monitoring head Anar Mamedli and journalist Anar Abdullayev, citing illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, and tax evasion. Sports: Azerbaijan’s swimmers won 55 medals at a competition in Georgia, and Asaf Chopurov defended his UAE Warriors bantamweight title with a quick knockout.

Sports & Youth: Azerbaijan Sports Academy’s futsal team (ASA) reached the European Universities Games semifinals in Salerno, Italy, after a 3–1 quarterfinal win over Portugal. Energy Markets: Azeri Light crude jumped about 8.5% to $109.10 a barrel at Italy’s Augusta port as global oil prices rallied. Human Rights & Justice: Azerbaijan sentenced an opposition activist to two years in prison, while another APFP activist, Kenan Ismail, was arrested for 30 days on an alleged “disobedience” charge that his associates call fabricated. Press Freedom: Serious concerns were raised over the ill-treatment of five women journalists detained in politically motivated cases, including claims of searches and abuse during detention. Security Incident: A landmine explosion in Jabrayil’s Hasanli village injured a tractor operator; an investigation is underway. Diplomacy & Regional Tensions: Azerbaijan reacted sharply to Israel’s Armenian genocide recognition move, with analysts saying Baku’s response was expected. Economy/Finance: SOFAZ suspended gold sales in Q2 2026 amid volatility tied to the US-Iran conflict.

Azerbaijan–Slovakia Security: Slovakia and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on exchanging and mutually protecting classified information, signed in Baku by Slovakia’s National Security Authority head and Azerbaijan’s State Security Service. IDP Rights Update: President Ilham Aliyev approved amendments that change when internally displaced persons lose IDP status and how social support is handled, including a shift in housing-location rules and a new timeline for benefits after status ends. Tourism Snapshot: Azerbaijan welcomed 1.09 million tourists in the first half of 2026, with arrivals dominated by visitors from Russia, Türkiye, and Iran. Energy & Finance: Azeri Light crude rose above $100 a barrel; SOFAZ suspended gold sales in Q2 and reported ACG revenues of AZN 4.3749bn for Jan–Jun 2026, while SOFAZ’s investment portfolio topped $72.6bn as of July 1. Legal/Political Pressure: The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 44–7 to demand the immediate release of Armenian hostages held in Azerbaijan.

Health & Justice: Azerbaijan Popular Front Party member Elhan Aliyev’s health in prison has sharply deteriorated, with opposition and his lawyer saying he needs urgent medical examination and possible surgery after a fraud conviction upheld on appeal. Human Rights at the ECHR: Lawyer Siranush Sahakyan says a complaint has been filed with the ECHR over Ruben Vardanyan’s 20-year sentence, arguing Azerbaijan’s system cannot ensure a fair trial. Energy Prices & Production: Azeri Light crude has pushed above $100 per barrel for deliveries to Italy’s Augusta port, while Azerbaijan reports steady natural gas growth and continued export activity. Oil & Gas Business Expansion: GL Group says it has completed a historic acquisition of upstream oil and gas assets in the US Permian Basin and also signed a five-year strategic services cooperation deal with Baker Hughes. Reconstruction & Transport: Jabrayil’s new rail link is set to boost the Araz Valley economy, connecting an industrial park to the Horadiz–Aghband corridor. Diplomacy & Regional Peace: Germany’s Merz and Armenia’s Pashinyan discussed the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, while Germany’s foreign ministry welcomed “historic momentum” in ties. Security & Transit Talks: Azerbaijan chaired a CICA Senior Officials meeting in Astana focused on digitalization, connectivity and sustainable development.

EU-Azerbaijan diplomacy: President Ilham Aliyev’s Berlin visit produced a “Joint Declaration on a Strategic Agenda for Bilateral Partnership” with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with Germany urging further steps toward a lasting Armenia-Azerbaijan peace and calling Azerbaijan an “island of stability.” Energy ties: Aliyev said Azerbaijan is ready to boost gas supplies to Germany, but EU financing hurdles tied to the green agenda must be removed; SOCAR also met Wood Mackenzie to expand strategic energy cooperation. Secret talks row: Aliyev confirmed flight records showing former German and Russian officials were in Baku, while the Kremlin denied knowledge and Ukraine dismissed the meeting’s relevance. Legal and rights: Lawyer Siranush Sahakian said Ruben Vardanyan’s case violates multiple European Convention on Human Rights articles and announced an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Trade and neighbors: Georgia’s food imports from Azerbaijan jumped 63% in H1 2026, and Azerbaijan increased natural gas exports to Georgia. Justice cooperation: Azerbaijan extradited fraud suspects from Uzbekistan and Russia. Digital life: Facebook and Instagram reported outages across Europe and the US. Business/tech: Bir was named among the world’s top fintechs in neobanking by CNBC and Statista.

Energy Markets: Azeri Light crude jumped to $98.73 a barrel, underlining how fast global prices are moving beyond Azerbaijan’s budget assumptions. Diplomacy & Security: President Ilham Aliyev confirmed that former German and Russian officials held secret talks in Baku on July 12–14, saying Azerbaijan learned only via media and that its territory was used without its knowledge, while Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he had no prior involvement. Energy Cooperation: In Berlin, Aliyev and Merz pushed closer Germany-Azerbaijan energy ties, agreeing a strategic agenda and discussing new gas pipeline interconnections and European funding to expand supplies. Regional Watch: The US carried out its 11th straight night of strikes on Iran, targeting military and drone-related sites as air defenses reportedly activated around Tehran. People & Society: Azerbaijan’s population surpassed 10 million, reaching 10,271,638 as of June 1, with urban residents making up 54.3%. Sports: Azerbaijan’s Fugar Asadli finished second on tie-break at the Qatar Rail Chess Open, scoring 8 points behind Victor Bologan. Culture: Azerbaijan marked National Press Day, recalling the 1875 launch of the Akinchi newspaper.