AGP Executive Report

Rebuilding & Education: Azerbaijan and Slovakia’s presidents inspected construction in Aghdam’s Bash Garvand village and laid the foundation stone for the Milan Rastislav Štefánik Secondary School for 840 students, alongside plans for roads, utilities, and new social infrastructure. Media & Peacebuilding: The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum in Shusha kept rolling with panels on AI, visual storytelling, and media responsibility, with officials stressing the need to label AI-generated content and protect audiences from manipulation. Courtroom Update (Toplum TV): Defendants in the Toplum TV case delivered their final statements, rejecting charges and arguing the accusations are unfounded, as prosecutors previously sought long prison terms. Arts & Culture: The State Film Fund added rare archival materials from renowned actor Gunduz Abbasov, while Baku Municipal Theatre closed its season with “Destroyed Diaries” based on Ilyas Afandiyev. International Media Ties: AZERTAC and Oman’s news agency signed an MoU for news and information exchange during the forum. Sports (U-17): The official logo for the U-17 Wrestling World Championships in Baku was approved, with the event set for July 27–Aug 2.

Shusha Global Media Forum: President Ilham Aliyev used the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum to lay out Azerbaijan’s new diplomatic doctrine, pushing for UN Security Council reform with permanent seats for NAM, OIC and the African Union, urging peace in the Russia-Ukraine war, and calling for immediate de-escalation in the US-Iran standoff. Council of Europe: He said Azerbaijan is considering suspending or even fully withdrawing from the Council of Europe, arguing PACE sanctions and ultimatum-like demands are punishment after sovereignty was restored. Digital media & platforms: Hikmat Hajiyev met TikTok and LinkedIn officials at Shusha, while TikTok’s Diana Ryan said 3.6 million videos were removed in Azerbaijan last year for rule violations and that AI flags most moderated content. D-8 media push: The D-8 Media Excellence Center strategy was presented, with officials saying the center is already functional and will train, research and promote new media technologies. Arts & culture: Azerbaijan’s Faig Ahmed debuted “The Attention” at the Venice Biennale, reframing carpet craft through immersive, tech-forward installations. Social debate: A new Azerbaijani bakery ad sparked backlash for sexist tropes that reduce women to “natural vs artificial” body stereotypes. Sports: Azerbaijan’s trans-Caspian trade and connectivity plans also featured in Aliyev’s remarks, while separate coverage highlighted Bahrain’s wrestling squad training in Baku ahead of Budapest.

Shusha Global Media Forum: President Ilham Aliyev opened the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum, stressing media’s role in peace and trust while answering questions freely, including praise for Pakistan’s peace diplomacy and calls for immediate end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Digital Governance & Platforms: Hikmat Hajiyev met TikTok and LinkedIn representatives, while TikTok policy chief Diana Ryan said 3.6 million videos were removed in Azerbaijan last year for rule violations and that AI moderates over 60% of content. D-8 Media Excellence Center: D-8 Secretary-General Sohail Mahmood and Hajiyev highlighted the center’s strategy—training, research, data collection, and new tech—hoping operations start soon. Regional Diplomacy: Hajiyev met Syria’s information officials on media and information cooperation; Aliyev also said Azerbaijan is considering full withdrawal from the Council of Europe. Arts & Pop Culture: Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday continues to dominate entertainment chatter with Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom return and a December release date. Human Rights: Reports say Talysh culture researcher Iqbal Abilov was tortured in Baku pre-trial detention, with his defense planning an ECHR complaint.

Shusha Global Media Forum: President Ilham Aliyev opened the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum in Shusha, framing it around “promoting peace” through restoring truth and rebuilding trust, and stressing the event’s role in connecting global media with Garabagh’s reconstruction. Whistleblowing & Media: A new explainer looks at how whistleblowers can expose wrongdoing inside companies and how media can amplify those revelations. Sports Spotlight: Azerbaijan’s Yusif Dursunov won gold at the U20 European Championships in Skopje, while Greco-Roman wrestling also featured medal wins this week. Arts & Pop Culture: Marvel’s “Avengers: Doomsday” concept art surfaced, with Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) centered in a massive crossover lineup. Local Culture & Heritage: Discussion continues around the 8,000-year-old Goytepe site in Tovuz, with experts warning that open-air preservation is hard and excavations must plan for long-term protection. Community & Security: In Bishkek, police detained participants after a nightclub brawl, with protocols filed for minor hooliganism. Arts Journalism Training: China International Communication Group opened a three-week training for mainstream media practitioners, including an Azerbaijani participant.

Marvel Hype Watch: New “Avengers: Doomsday” concept art from Shanghai Expo has fans debating a lineup that’s missing major heroes and skewing male-heavy, while Doctor Doom’s return (with Steve Rogers wielding Mjolnir) keeps the spotlight on the MCU’s next big crossover. Azerbaijan in Focus: President Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the Khankendi Hotel and visited restored homes and infrastructure in Khojavend’s Guzeykhirman and Guneykhirman villages, highlighting jobs for returning residents and ongoing reconstruction. Arts & Culture: Shusha’s Sadigjan House reopened after restoration, adding another cultural stop in the city’s revival story. Heritage Under Pressure: Discussions erupted over the 8,000-year-old Goytepe site in Tovuz, with experts warning that excavations must consider long-term protection for open-air monuments. Fashion & Expo: ILLIYEEN showcased Bangladesh’s luxury fashion at Indonesia’s D-8 Halal Expo, underlining how Azerbaijan is now part of the expanding D-8 halal market network. Media & Decolonization: Baku Initiative Group signed an MoU with Burkina Faso’s INHEI during Baku’s “Media and Decolonization” conference, pushing deeper academic and policy ties. Sports: Azerbaijan basketball veteran Amil Hamzayev leaves Neftchi after two seasons.

Karabakh Restoration & Community Life: President Ilham Aliyev visited Guzeykhirman and Guneykhirman in Khojavend, briefing on house and infrastructure restoration and meeting returning residents—part of the broader post-liberation rebuilding effort. Heritage in Shusha: Aliyev attended the opening of the restored Sadigjan House in Shusha, a historical home tied to tar virtuoso Mirza Asad oghlu Sadigjan, now revived as a house-museum. Cultural Diplomacy & Media: Baku hosted the international conference “Media and Decolonization: Rising Voices, Strengthening Narratives,” with the Baku Initiative Group pushing decolonization onto global media and policy agendas, including a new MoU with Burkina Faso’s INHEI. Pop Culture Spotlight: Marvel’s “Avengers: Doomsday” concept art keeps the hype rolling, while an Indonesian virtual-production horror film, “Whispers of Fatimah,” announced a September release. Sports & Entertainment: Azerbaijan basketball veteran Amil Hamzayev left Neftchi after two seasons; meanwhile, UFC 329 results and the latest Avengers chatter dominated entertainment feeds.

Arts & Culture in Karabakh: President Ilham Aliyev visited Guzeykhirman village in Khojavend, briefing restoration of homes and social infrastructure after the 2023 liberation, and met returning residents. Heritage Restoration: He also attended the opening of the restored Sadigjan House in Shusha, reviving the home-museum of tar virtuoso Mirza Sadig (Sadigjan). Hospitality & Jobs: Aliyev joined the opening of the Khankendi Hotel, a new four-story property in Khankendi Hotel Complex with 101 rooms and plans to employ local residents from liberated areas. Film Buzz: Marvel released new concept art for “Avengers: Doomsday,” teasing a huge ensemble and spotlighting Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. Sports & Community: Azerbaijan basketball veteran Amil Hamzayev left Neftchi after two seasons, while the Gabala International Music Festival gears up for a major ballet gala on July 29. Media & Decolonization: The Baku Initiative Group launched a major “Media and Decolonization” conference in Baku and signed a Burkina Faso MoU to expand institutional ties. Public Life Online: Footage of Aliyev’s meeting with Shusha’s Kichik Galaderesi residents was posted on social media. Weather Impact: Heavy rains and flooding hit parts of Azerbaijan, damaging homes and orchards and causing at least one death.

Baku’s Cultural Calendar: The 15th Gabala International Music Festival kicks off with a star-studded open-air ballet gala on July 29, featuring Timur Asgarov and Mariinsky talent alongside Bolshoi, Vienna State Ballet and Dutch National Ballet dancers. Photography & Heritage: Azerbaijan’s Culture Ministry launches the “Stone Chronicle of Karabakh” photography competition, inviting pro and amateur photographers to document historical, cultural and religious monuments in the liberated territories (entries due Sept 30). Cultural Diplomacy: Azerbaijan and Georgia keep deepening ties through a new round of talks between their culture ministries, mapping fresh joint projects for libraries and museums. Arts in the City: Residents in Baku’s Bayirshahar accuse authorities of arson-linked pressure during ongoing redevelopment of a 140-year-old heritage building. Sports Spotlight: Azerbaijan’s Special Olympics Unified Football women reach the World Cup final in Paris after a 6–0 semifinal win over Côte d’Ivoire. Pop Culture & Health: Turkish actor Kerem Bürsin receives Azerbaijan’s Walk of Fame honor after promoting skin-cancer awareness and screening.

Azerbaijan–Georgia Cultural Boost: Azerbaijan’s Culture Minister Adil Karimli met Georgia’s First Deputy Culture Minister Giorgi Mirtskhulava in Baku, with both sides pushing theatre and cinema cooperation through the third meeting of their joint working group. Karabakh Photo Call: The Culture Ministry’s MEMİM launched the “Stone Chronicle of Karabakh” photography competition for liberated-territory monuments, open to pros and amateurs, with registration due by Sept. 30, 2026. Sports Inclusion Moment: Azerbaijan’s Special Olympics Unified women’s football team reached the Paris final after a 6–0 semifinal win over Côte d’Ivoire, facing the United States on July 10. Football Transfer Buzz: Celtic confirmed Colombian striker Camilo Durán on a five-year deal from Qarabag, calling it a “dream come true” as he joins the club’s Champions League ambitions. Baku Sports Event: The European Free Pyramid Championship kicked off at the Baku Olympic Sports Complex, running until July 12 with 130 athletes from 13 countries. Poetry in Shusha & Gazakh: Vagif Poetry Days return July 16–18 under “The Story of the Word,” with events in Gazakh and Shusha.

Football & Diplomacy: Azerbaijan’s London embassy hailed Qarabag’s Colombian star Camilo Duran’s record £5.5m move to Celtic, with training photos emerging from Portugal as the deal nears completion. Human Rights & Media: Council of Europe human rights chief Michael O’Flaherty asked Azerbaijan for details on journalist Afgan Sadigov’s renewed criminal case and pre-trial detention, after earlier ECHR-linked complications. Courts & Civil Society: Baku sentenced activist Nargiz Mukhtarova to a conditional term in a case tied to legalizing illegal income, with observers noting procedural and charge details. Culture Spotlight: Azerbaijan’s Venice Biennale 2026 contribution by Faig Ahmed, “The Attention,” is framed as a living process of surrealist rug-based ideas. Arts & Performance: Azerbaijan’s 2nd Opera Days wrapped with Verdi’s “Otello,” highlighting plans to revive lesser-known Azerbaijani works. Sports: Azerbaijan rowers and canoe/kayak athletes are set for a July 10–12 regatta in Poti, Georgia. Regional Context: Azerbaijan also pushed back diplomatically against an Israeli plan to discuss “Armenian genocide” recognition, saying it could harm Azerbaijan–Israel and Turkey ties.

Azerbaijani Arts on the Global Stage: Faig Ahmed’s Venice Biennale 2026 installation “The Attention” spotlights a surrealist take on Azerbaijani rug traditions, with the artist describing the work as an ongoing “state of transition.” Opera Days in Baku: The 2nd Opera Days project wrapped with a major premiere of Verdi’s “Otello,” with conductor Ayyub Guliyev stressing support for young performers and plans to revive rarely staged Azerbaijani operas. Sports & Culture Diplomacy: Azerbaijan and the UAE discussed expanding youth and sports cooperation, building on an Olympic-movement MoU. International Sports Spotlight: Azerbaijan’s rowers (12 athletes) will compete in Poti, Georgia (July 10–12), across academic rowing, canoe, and kayak events. Human Rights in the Spotlight: The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner asked Azerbaijan for details on journalist Afgan Sadigov’s renewed criminal case and detention. Big News for Fans: Camilo Duran’s reported £5.5m move to Celtic is being celebrated by Azerbaijan’s London embassy, tying Azerbaijani football talent to Scotland.

Arts & Media Recognition: Meydan TV and AbzasMedia won the 2026 “Free Media Pioneer” award from IPI and IMS, spotlighting independent reporting and the ongoing “Meydan TV case” that has seen arrests and trials. Cultural Diplomacy in Focus: ADA University opened an exhibition of young Azerbaijani artists inspired by rare artifacts from Egypt’s Grand Egyptian Museum, organized with Egypt’s embassy to celebrate cultural ties. Literature & Music: The International Mugham Center hosted a literary-artistic evening dedicated to writer and playwright Ilgar Fahmi, with mugham performers and reciters presenting works inspired by his ghazals. Regional Arts Events: Azerbaijan Filmmakers Union brought “Cinema Days in Astara” to the Heydar Aliyev Center, screening multiple Azerbaijani feature and documentary titles with post-show discussions. Community & Displacement Watch: Social media attention grew around the return of displaced Azerbaijani families to Shyukurbeyli in Jebrail, with debate centered on land, housing, and farming prospects. Sports & Entertainment: BTS fans protested in Chile after concert venue concerns, while Azerbaijan’s own entertainment calendar also looks busy with new arts competitions announced for Baku.

ADA University & Egypt Cultural Diplomacy: An exhibition of young Azerbaijani artists’ works inspired by rare artifacts from the Grand Egyptian Museum opened at ADA University, organized with the Embassy of Egypt in Azerbaijan and a youth rehabilitation center, spotlighting cultural diplomacy ahead of Azerbaijan’s Diplomatic Service Day. Mugham & Literature: The International Mugham Center hosted a literary-artistic evening dedicated to writer/playwright Ilgar Fahmi, featuring mugham performers and reciters presenting compositions and excerpts from his ghazals and works. Regional Cinema Spotlight: The Azerbaijan Filmmakers Union brought “Cinema Days in Astara” to the Heydar Aliyev Center, screening multiple Azerbaijani feature and documentary films with active post-screening discussions by teens and young people. Arts Competition in Baku: The Azerbaijan Youth Union and Jam SS Art Lab announced a large international multidisciplinary arts competition at Rashid Behbudov State Song Theatre, covering music, theatre/literary arts, choreography, and visual arts. Courtroom & Minority Culture: In Baku, the Yasamal District Court began hearings in Talysh culture researcher Iqbal Abilov’s defamation/presumption-of-innocence lawsuit against four media outlets, including a translator request in the Talysh language.

Human Rights in Focus: Czech media spotlighted Vaclav Havel Prize nominee Ruben Vardanyan’s suffering in Azerbaijani prison, renewing scrutiny of Armenian prisoners of war and trials Amnesty International calls “opaque” and “fabricated.” Courtroom Updates: Baku Court of Appeals continued hearings on appeals by illegally detained Armenian PoWs; the next session is set for July 10. Transnational Repression: A French court upheld a landmark ruling tied to an attempted assassination of Azerbaijani blogger Mahammad Mirzali, with Reporters Without Borders hailing the message that cross-border repression won’t go unpunished. Football & Talent Pipeline: Celtic moved closer to signing Qarabağ striker Camilo Duran, with reports of a medical and a deal around £6m; the Colombian scored 15 goals for Qarabağ last season, including five in the Champions League. Culture & Music: Shahin Novrasli Festival kept Baku’s Icherisheher buzzing with an open-air jazz performance by the Eric Jacot Band, plus jam sessions and a full ten-day program. Sports Development: Shahdag Wrestling Club reopened its renovated Greco-Roman hall in Guba, and Azerbaijan named a preliminary squad for the Women’s European Volleyball Championship, co-hosted by Azerbaijan.

Toplum TV Trial: Lawyers for defendants in the Toplum TV case wrapped closing statements in Baku’s Serious Crimes Court, urging acquittal and saying the prosecution lacks support from the case materials and contradicts the law. Armenian Politics: Reuters reports pro-Russian opposition leader Gagik Tsarukyan was placed in pre-trial detention for two months over alleged large-scale fraud and money laundering tied to imports worth $21m from Iran. Music & Festivals: In Baku’s Icherisheher, the Shahin Novrasli Festival hosted the Eric Jacot Band with open-air jazz and jam sessions; meanwhile the International Silk Road Music Festival concluded in Ganja, spotlighting cross-border cultural heritage through concerts and dance. Culture & Heritage: Azerbaijan approved its first national standards for the kamancha, covering four sizes, to unify technical specs and better preserve intangible musical heritage. Film Industry: The Culture Ministry and ARKA launched a Creative Cinema Incubation Program to train young filmmakers and develop short-film and creative business projects. Sports (Local): Azerbaijan announced a preliminary squad for the Women’s European Volleyball Championship and reported the reopening of the Shahdag Greco-Roman wrestling hall in Guba.

Literature & Performing Arts: Eastern Mediterranean University hosted its “3rd Literature Days” under “A Journey through Time,” mixing poetry, theatre, music and dance to spotlight literature’s role in foreign-language education. Film & TV: National Geographic’s “Horses and Humans” wrapped the first filming phase for its second season in Azerbaijan (Baku, Shamakhi, Gobustan, Aghjabadi), with Garabagh horses and traditional Chovken featured ahead of a Netflix release. Fashion & Cultural Heritage: The Azerbaijan National Art Museum opened a Turkic World Week exhibition and seminar for Ali bey Huseynzade’s 100th anniversary, linking national cultural thought with visual arts. Sports & Community Infrastructure: Azerbaijan’s “Healthy Neighborhood” project inaugurated new sports zones in Naftalan, Samukh and Mingachevir, adding mini-football, basketball, table tennis, chess and gym areas. Diaspora & Youth: The State Committee on Work with Diaspora marked its anniversary with renewed focus on diaspora youth networking and cultural work abroad. International Arts/Media: CineLink Industry Days revealed Co-Production Market and Drama line-ups, including a new €10,000 award. Arts & Entertainment Business: Gazelli Art House bought the former Marlborough Gallery space in Chelsea for $7.5M, expanding its permanent art footprint with a major exhibition-ready venue.