AGP Executive Report

World Urban Forum momentum: President Ilham Aliyev posted that WUF13 in Baku drew about 60,000 participants, produced the Chair’s Summary and the Baku Call to Action, and highlighted Azerbaijan’s post-conflict rebuilding of 9 cities and hundreds of villages in Garabagh and East Zangezur. Diplomacy via culture and cities: UN-Habitat’s Anacláudia Rossbach called the Baku Call to Action the highlight, stressing housing as a core urban policy issue tied to resilience, financing, and governance. Media under pressure: In the Meydan TV case, journalists protested in court after interruptions and removal from the podium, with the outlet linking arrests to critical reporting. Regional signals: Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev warned Armenia over its EU integration path while keeping EAEU benefits. Arts spotlight: A Peruvian artist’s solo show opened at the Heydar Aliyev Centre, with works including Azerbaijani carpet and motif elements. Tech and space: SpaceX carried out its 12th Starship test flight toward future missions.

WUF13 Afterglow in Baku: The 13th World Urban Forum wrapped up with UN-Habitat leaders praising Azerbaijan’s “ability to build, but also to rebuild,” while officials highlighted housing, resilience, and urban inclusion as the week’s core message. Diplomacy Through the Forum: D-8 Secretary-General Sohail Mahmood made his first visit to Azerbaijan, taking part in WUF13 and a high-level energy-and-urban dialogue. Culture on the Move: Azerbaijani artists kept crossing borders—“Dialogue Through Art” opened in Beijing, and an Azerbaijani artists’ group exhibition arrived in China. Media Spotlight: Hikmet Hajiyev publicly thanked journalists covering WUF13, calling cameramen and photographers “heroes behind the scenes.” Regional Ties: Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court rejected Bahruz Samadov’s appeal, while Azerbaijan–Georgia cooperation featured renewed focus on the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway’s role in the Middle Corridor. Tech and Society: Azerbaijan’s “protecting morality” social-media restrictions continue to draw attention as penalties and enforcement expand.

Supreme Court Ruling: Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court has rejected Bahruz Samadov’s appeal, keeping his 15-year treason sentence in place and following his transfer to stricter-regime Umbaki Prison—his lawyer cites serious health problems and repeated pressure in custody. Urban Forum Momentum: UN-Habitat chief Anacláudia Rossbach says WUF13 in Baku showed housing and climate resilience must be treated as one systemic challenge, with tens of thousands of participants and heavy media coverage. Cultural Diplomacy: Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva toured WUF13’s Urban Expo, while Azerbaijan’s National Art Museum hosted the romantic “Love is Life” concert. Regional Connectivity: Georgia’s economy minister says the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway will boost the Middle Corridor, and passenger rail between Baku and Tbilisi is set to resume. Sports & Arts: “Neftchi” won the Azerbaijan Futsal Cup 5–3; a Peruvian artist’s solo show opened at the Heydar Aliyev Center.

WUF13 Spotlight in Baku: World Urban Forum coverage keeps swelling as international media frame Azerbaijan as a hub for “safe, resilient” housing and green urban ideas, with foreign delegations touring Shamakhi’s heritage sites and Azerbaijan’s cultural venues while reporting on the forum’s agenda and media sessions. Diplomacy on the Line: President Ilham Aliyev spoke by phone with France’s Emmanuel Macron, with both sides stressing momentum in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process and broader bilateral ties. Armenia Tensions: In Yerevan-linked reporting, Karabakh activist Artur Osipyan has started a hunger strike after arrest, while Western-funded civic groups call the case politically motivated. Information War: A Kremlin-linked bot network (Storm-1516) is accused of pushing a fake “Azerbaijani return” narrative targeting Armenia. UK Fallout Echoes: New UK documents say Queen Elizabeth II was “very keen” for disgraced ex-Prince Andrew to become a trade envoy in 2001, with ministers finding no formal vetting. Sports & Culture: A 13-year-old figure skater, Alexander Plushenko, is set to compete under Azerbaijan’s flag, and Azerbaijani art continues to travel—this time to Beijing’s Today Art Museum.

Armenian election pressure: Prosperous Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan says he’ll use every legal tool to defend his interests, including the Ararat Cement plant, after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan renewed threats—his party calls it “weaponisation” of state power. Baku diplomacy at phone level: President Ilham Aliyev spoke by phone with France’s Emmanuel Macron, reviewing Azerbaijan–France ties and regional/global developments. WUF13 keeps rolling: Baku’s World Urban Forum is drawing major attention—more than 38,000 participants registered so far—and foreign media are being hosted on cultural and heritage tours. Arts & heritage in focus: The Nizami Ganjavi National Museum of Azerbaijani Literature opened its doors for International Museum Day, welcoming 3,278 visitors. Transport for the arts audience: Azerbaijan Railways plans sleeper trains on the Baku–Tbilisi route with 118 seats across comfort tiers, including a luxury class.

Global Casino Push: Azerbaijan is being pulled into the world’s new “integrated resort” race, where casinos are sold as tourism engines—not just gambling halls—mirroring the scale of Macau’s $28B-plus market. Armenia Rights Row: Rights groups are again challenging Armenia’s prosecution of Arthur Osipyan as politically motivated, tying the case to election-era pressure. WUF13 Culture & Media: In Baku, WUF13 keeps spotlighting how media shapes housing and urban resilience, with statements on smart, green, human-centered cities and civic participation. Azerbaijan–Qatar Media Links: Doha hosted talks on strengthening media cooperation between Qatar and Azerbaijan. Space & Science: ESA and China launched the SMILE mission to study how solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere. Sports & Youth: Azerbaijan’s cadet judo team topped a European cup medal table, while table tennis federations signed a cooperation memorandum with Uzbekistan.

Media Diplomacy: In Doha, Qatar Media Corporation CEO Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani met Azerbaijan’s ambassador Adish Mammadov to map out closer media cooperation, framing it as support for wider bilateral ties. Armenia–Russia Narrative Clash: A new expert commentary claims Armenia’s NATO/EU pivot is driving provocations tied to the arrest of six Russian citizens accused of espionage over documentary filming—while the broader dispute over fair treatment and motives around the case keeps resurfacing. WUF13 Culture & Cities: Baku’s World Urban Forum continues to blend policy with art—UNESCO’s Creative Cities session spotlights heritage and sustainable urban growth, while “Music in the Museum” brings young folk performers into the National Art Museum. Sports Momentum: Azerbaijan’s judo team topped the medal table at the European Cadet Judo Cup in Poland, and table tennis cooperation with Uzbekistan moves forward via a memorandum. Justice Watch: The ICJ again raises concerns over fair-trial standards in Armenian-related Baku proceedings, keeping legal scrutiny in the spotlight.

World Urban Forum momentum in Baku: Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has inaugurated the Punjab Pavilion at WUF13, spotlighting her “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” affordable housing push after claiming it ranked among the world’s top innovations, with delegates touring the project via digital demos and a documentary. Cultural diplomacy through cities: Azerbaijan’s WUF13 program keeps blending urban policy with art—featuring museum and pavilion exhibitions like “From Micro Art to Architecture,” plus talks on how culture, heritage, and design shape city life. Nagorno-Karabakh heritage alarm: Armenia-linked voices are condemning Azerbaijan over reports that two Armenian churches in Stepanakert were demolished, intensifying fears of erasing Christian heritage after 2023. Justice and rights spotlight: The International Commission of Jurists renews scrutiny of Azerbaijan’s court practices, including trials of Armenians in Baku, saying they fall short of fair-trial standards. Sports ties, quietly growing: Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan signed a table tennis cooperation memorandum, while Azerbaijani youth teams continue competing abroad.

WUF13 Spotlight: Azerbaijan’s World Urban Forum in Baku is in full swing, with President Ilham Aliyev telling Euronews that hosting 182 countries (over 40,000 participants) is a chance to show what’s been done and learn from partners, stressing the need to balance heritage preservation with modern city-making. Urban Culture Meets Policy: The Azerbaijan National Art Museum’s director says art doesn’t just mirror urban change—it helps shape city identity, while the “From Micro Art to Architecture” exhibition turns national motifs and applied arts into a planning blueprint for future urban symbols. Shusha Revival: Reconstruction continues in Shusha, with plans moving toward a new Victory Museum, alongside a new kindergarten and a mosque expected to open soon. Regional Energy Push: Georgia and Azerbaijan signed energy and transit deals in Baku, including gas, electricity, pipeline revival, and railway rehabilitation—aimed at strengthening the Middle Corridor. Sports & Youth: Azerbaijan’s table tennis team heads to Andijan after WTT Youth Contender medals in Tashkent.

World Urban Forum in Baku: The 13th World Urban Forum opened with Ilham Aliyev welcoming a record crowd—45,000+ participants from 182 countries—and a “Baku Call to Action” set for the Leaders’ Summit. Azerbaijan Pavilion: Visitors can now tour a 1,500 sq m Azerbaijan pavilion at Urban Expo, built around a Heydar Aliyev Centre-inspired design and showcasing Icherisheher heritage, reconstruction in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, and “smart city/smart village” projects plus VR, masterclasses, and cultural zones. Flooding at the venue: Heavy rain reportedly flooded streets and the Olympic Stadium courtyard, with participants wading through water—no official statement yet, though organizers point to climate change. Regional diplomacy: Serbia’s Vucic met Kenya’s Ruto in Baku, discussing economic cooperation and Kosovo; Uzbekistan’s Mirziyoyev also met Vucic on trade, industry, energy, and corridors. Culture & society: A WUF13 anti-doping conference for women and girls ran alongside new cultural programming, while a separate report links smartphone growth to falling fertility rates. Politics under pressure: Journalists Hafiz Babali and economist Fazil Gasimov began a hunger strike on WUF13’s opening day, calling for political prisoners’ release.

World Urban Forum momentum: WUF13 in Baku is drawing global attention fast—over 40,000 participants from 182 countries, with major sessions on housing, resilience, and the private sector’s role in delivering safe homes. Culture meets policy: Azerbaijan’s cultural program is running alongside the talks, from the National Art Museum’s “Chronicle of the City of Winds” exhibition to Khatai Arts Center’s “Days of Azerbaijani Music in Fine Arts,” while President Ilham Aliyev tied the country’s ancient heritage to the forum’s future-facing agenda. Sport with a social edge: WUF13 also hosted an international conference on inclusive anti-doping approaches for women and girls, and Azerbaijani judokas added medals from Russia. Human rights pressure: On opening day, journalist Hafiz Babali and economist Fazil Gasimov began a hunger strike, calling for international attention to political prisoners. Local challenge spotlight: Economists warn of a graduate glut—too many humanities-trained jobseekers for available openings—fueling underemployment or emigration.

World Urban Forum in Baku: WUF13 is now in full swing at the Baku Olympic Stadium, drawing global media attention and tens of thousands of registrations, with Azerbaijan spotlighting urban planning, affordable housing, and sustainable city-making. Business Assembly Spotlight: A Business Assembly session focused on how private capital can help deliver housing “across the value chain,” with UN-Habitat and industry leaders warning that climate resilience must be built into housing—not added later. Pakistan’s Housing Pitch: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif arrived in Baku to represent Pakistan, meet Ilham Aliyev, and present Punjab’s “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” affordable housing model to international leaders. Diplomacy in Motion: Ilham Aliyev also met the UAE’s energy and infrastructure minister, underscoring Azerbaijan’s active regional engagement as WUF13 unfolds. Arts & Culture Pulse: Alongside the policy spotlight, Azerbaijan’s cultural presence continues to travel—while Eurovision chatter and other entertainment items fill the wider news stream.

WUF13 Momentum in Baku: A Business Assembly kicked off as part of the 13th UN World Urban Forum, with a focus on how private capital can help solve the housing crisis and reshape the housing value chain—while Azerbaijan ramps up logistics for a record-sized gathering. High-Level Visits: Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif arrived in Baku to represent Pakistan at WUF13 and is set to meet President Ilham Aliyev, bringing Punjab’s affordable housing model “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” to the world stage. Diplomatic Run-Up: Briefings for the diplomatic corps at Baku Olympic Stadium covered security, reception, transport, and press accreditation as registrations reportedly topped 40,000 from 182 countries. Regional Spotlight: Turkey’s Erdoğan is set to chair a Cabinet meeting in Ankara on “terror-free Türkiye” and economic priorities, while Eurovision’s latest drama continues to ripple across Europe.

World Urban Forum in Baku: Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has arrived in Azerbaijan to represent her country at WUF13, with meetings planned including a May 17 session with President Ilham Aliyev and a keynote at the Baku Olympic Stadium. She will pitch Punjab’s affordable housing model “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” to global leaders as the forum runs May 17–20. Eurovision aftershocks: While WUF13 ramps up in Baku, Eurovision’s 70th Grand Final in Vienna crowned Bulgaria’s Dara (“Bangaranga”) in a week marked by protests over Israel’s participation—Israel finished second, and the contest’s politics stayed front and center. Security & logistics build-up: Azerbaijan is briefing diplomats and accredited guests on WUF13 protocol, accreditation, transport, and airport operations as registrations reportedly top 40,000 from 182 countries.

World Urban Forum in Baku: Azerbaijan is in full WUF13 mode. Senior MES officials have set up a dedicated headquarters and working groups, with an action plan covering fire, technical, construction and radiation safety, plus monitoring, public awareness and rapid-response readiness as the forum opens in the city. Diplomatic Run-Up: A briefing in Baku for diplomats and visiting delegations laid out the official program, security, reception and transport, press accreditation rules, and airport operations—while organizers say more than 40,000 participants from 182 countries are already registered. Culture Spotlight: Shusha’s Kharibulbul festival wrapped up with mugham and a “Garabagh” finale, while Istanbul’s Ethnosport festival is set to bring traditional sports and performances from across the Turkic world. Film Industry: Azerbaijan’s Filmmakers Union chair race has two candidates—Shafiga Mammadova and Ali Isa Jabbarov—ahead of the May 26 congress. Eurovision Buzz: Azerbaijan’s entry JIVA qualified for the second semi-final, as Vienna’s grand final nears amid ongoing Israel-related controversy.

Eurovision 70th Anniversary in Vienna: The 2026 grand final is set for Saturday, May 16, after a tense, geopolitics-heavy week marked by boycotts over Israel’s participation and a long history of political fallout for the contest. Azerbaijan in the spotlight: Azerbaijan’s Eurovision act, JIVA (Jamila Hashimova), performed in the second semi-final with “Just Go,” while the wider Azerbaijan cultural scene keeps moving—Shusha’s Kharibulbul festival just wrapped, featuring mugham and a “Garabagh” finale. Regional diplomacy: Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev’s social media posts highlighted a working visit to Kazakhstan and remarks at the OTS informal summit, where Turkish media stressed the growing role of the Turkic bloc and the Middle Corridor. Arts & cities: Ahead of WUF13 in Baku, the World Urban Forum’s Urban Expo is gearing up to turn the Baku Olympic Stadium into a housing-and-sustainability showcase, with an “Architecture in Carpets” exhibition due to open at the National Carpet Museum.