Ticket Sales for Baku-Shushi-Baku Route Launch in Azerbaijan

The Analytical Center "Henaket" has compiled and published a summary of important events related to Azerbaijan that occurred over the past week.

In relation to Azerbaijan's military sector, Selcuk Bayraktar, the chief technical officer of the Turkish aviation company "Baykar," announced that besides operating and servicing Bayraktar TB2 drones and UAVs in Azerbaijan, the company plans to establish a facility to develop high technologies necessary for UAV production and to expand the application of artificial intelligence.

Bayraktar also mentioned that Azerbaijani state structures are interested in Turkish "Akıncı" UAVs. "Baykar" aims to initiate the development of this technology in Azerbaijan.

On February 8, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov met with a delegation led by Turkish Deputy Defense Minister Muhsin Dere and emphasized that military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey is advancing positively.

Azerbaijan's Deputy Defense Minister Kerem Mustafaev visited Turkey's exercise management center, where the preparatory phase of the "Computer-Assisted 'Indestructible Brotherhood-2022' Command-Staff Exercises" took place.

During the week, Zakir Hasanov and other senior officials of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense visited the military training center of Azerbaijan's Ground Forces and got acquainted with the under-construction staff building.

Azerbaijani media reported that a new military infrastructure has been commissioned in the Karvachar region. During the visit to Karvachar, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry leadership participated in the opening of this new military infrastructure. Zakir Hasanov and other high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defense also inspected their military unit in the Lachin region.

According to Azerbaijani media, four senior officials of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense were arrested on suspicion of embezzlement.

Regarding the Armenian-Azerbaijani border situation, Jayhun Bayramov stated that it is necessary to resolve the issues of border delimitation and demarcation. He noted that Azerbaijan is ready to start this process with Armenia without preconditions.

The Secretary General of the CSTO, Zas, stated that there are centers of tension on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, but it should not be so.

Azerbaijani media have reported that the construction of the Barda-Aghdam road is continuing at an accelerated pace. The road, which will have 4 traffic lanes, is intended to be 45 km long.

Estonian Parliament President Juri Ratas mentioned that Estonian companies are interested in implementing projects in Azerbaijan, including the reconstruction of territories occupied from Artsakh.

Ticket sales for the Baku-Shushi-Baku bus route for March have started in Azerbaijan. Reports indicate that tickets for the February bus route to Shushi have already sold out.

Ilham Aliyev stated that this year it is planned to start the construction of five hydroelectric power plants in the territories occupied from Artsakh.

The head of the Department of Strategic Analysis of Mandatory Medical Insurance Agency of Azerbaijan, Araz Nasirov, noted that a modular hospital has already been launched in Shushi. He mentioned that documentation issues are currently being resolved regarding the construction of modular hospitals in Aghdam, Jabrayil, Karvachar, Zangelan, and Sanasar.

On February 13, Ilham Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Aghdam region, where the President laid the foundation of a 210-bed regional central hospital.

The Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan issued a statement confirming the intention to destroy the Armenian cultural heritage in the territories occupied from Artsakh, referring to attempts to "Albanize" them.

Maria Zakharova, a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, in response to a question about Baku's plans to destroy Armenian historical and cultural heritage in Artsakh, stated that the preservation of the historical and cultural heritage has always been discussed in their interactions with official Baku.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has appealed to the co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, sister churches and religious organizations, and international specialized organizations to respond harshly to Azerbaijan’s encroachments on Christian shrines and Armenian identity in the areas of Artsakh under its control.

The website monumentwatch.org, which conducts permanent monitoring of cultural heritage in Artsakh, reported that in March 2021, a user named "Karabakh Honor" posted a video on his YouTube channel showing vandalism at the St. Astvatsatsin Church in Karintak, which is under Azerbaijani control.

Jayhun Bayramov announced that several mass graves have been discovered in the territories occupied from Artsakh. He also noted that Baku plans to complete the construction of a 110 km railway extending to the border with Armenia by the end of 2023.

Regarding regional projects, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced that the EU is engaged in negotiations with Norway, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Algeria, and other countries to expand the supply of liquefied natural gas to Europe.

Italy’s Deputy Foreign Minister Manlio Di Stefano stated that his country must reduce its dependency on Russian gas and that Italian authorities should look to Algeria, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan as alternative suppliers. He reminded of the significance of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) for diversifying energy sources, as Azerbaijani gas is supplied through this pipeline.

Ilham Aliyev stated that they plan to build a new line from Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan and then to Turkey via the so-called "Zangezur corridor." According to him, this corridor will not only serve to open railway, automotive, and air transport, but will also facilitate the export of energy types and provide Nakhchivan with electricity.

Aliyev believes that with the launch of the corridor, they will have the opportunity to reach Europe from Turkey.

During the week, Aliyev and Erdogan approved the "Shushi Declaration."

Iran's ambassador to Armenia, Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri, stated that Iran attaches great importance to the routes passing through Armenia and Azerbaijan.

On February 7, Azerbaijan returned 8 Armenian prisoners of war to Armenia. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron, and the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, welcomed the transfer of the prisoners.

Azerbaijan's mine clearance agency reported that local companies have been contracted to accelerate the rehabilitation work in Karabakh.

The French ambassador in Azerbaijan, Zaccheri Gros, said that France has offered to collaborate with Azerbaijan’s mine clearance agency (ANAMA) in the sectors of demining and assistance to mine victims.

Jayhun Bayramov announced that Moldova has expressed a desire to support Azerbaijan in the field of mine clearance.