Azerbaijan 

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Latest news on Azerbaijan: Armenia peace deal, Karabakh, TRIPP, Nakhchivan, Baku, gas and oil, Russia, Iran, economy, human rights, visas and travel advice.

Azerbaijan, the 'Land of Fire', is a South Caucasus country on the Caspian Sea, bordering Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Iran. Its capital, Baku, is the centre of government, finance and culture. Oil and gas drive the economy and the manat, while state company SOCAR and the Southern Gas Corridor make Azerbaijan a vital energy supplier to Europe.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process is the story at the heart of regional news. A joint declaration at the White House on 8 August 2025 marked a breakthrough after decades of conflict over Karabakh, and negotiators initialled a draft peace agreement. Baku says signing depends on constitutional change in Armenia. The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) would link Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan across Armenian territory, a route known in Baku as the Zangezur corridor.

Azerbaijan balances relations with several powers. Ties with Russia were strained after the 2024 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane, before both sides moved to restore relations. The 2026 Iran war spilled into Nakhchivan when drones struck the exclave, testing relations with Tehran. The European Union, Turkey and the Organization of Turkic States remain major partners.

Human rights and press freedom are contested issues. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has criticised the silencing of critical voices, and rights groups say journalists and activists have been jailed in a crackdown on independent media since late 2023. Authorities reject claims of political imprisonment and present the cases as criminal matters such as smuggling. Hosting COP29 in 2024 also brought scrutiny of the country's fossil fuel dependence and rights record.

Beyond politics, Azerbaijan draws visitors with the Old City (Icherisheher) in Baku, the rock art and mud volcanoes of Gobustan, and the Caspian coast. Travellers often look for the latest on the ASAN visa, e-visa rules, flights to Baku, travel advice and weather across the country. Traditions such as mugham music, carpet weaving and Nowruz celebrations remain central to national identity, and Baku has hosted Eurovision and major international events.

Azerbaijan declared independence as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, and the following decades were shaped by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the 2020 war and the recapture of Karabakh in 2023. These events still colour its politics, alliances and relations with Armenia, Russia, Iran and Turkey. Our NewsNow feed on Azerbaijan is updated constantly with the most relevant headlines from reliable sources, so you can follow Azerbaijan news today, from the peace process to energy, travel and the economy.