Azerbaijan
The Republic of Azerbaijan is located in Caucasia, on the western shore of the Caspian Sea and south of the Caucasus Mountains. The republic is bounded by Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, and the Caspian Sea. Its territory includes two administrative units of special status: the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan, separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by Armenia, and the Autonomous District of Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave in Azerbaijan with a largely Armenian population. During the 1990s the country was divided by a conflict over the status of the latter territory. Formerly part of the USSR, it became independent in 1991.
US Deputy Secretary Negroponte in Azerbaijan: the Caucasus Failure of the Bush Administration
The newly re-elected Azeri President Ilham Aliyev is ready to do all that it takes to bring forth much demanded changes in the Eastern Caucasus. Dagestan will the place where the shape of the things to come will be decided.
Energy: Brussels Told to Pursue Azerbaijan Pipe Dream
EU energy commissioner pushes for Nabucco pipeline to go through Georgia and reduce dependence on Russia
Azerbaijan's Gobustan Petroglyphs
Established in 1966, it was declared a protected area since in the caves lies the ancient carvings and rock paintings that is believed to be more than 600,000 in number. The paintings are mostly images of what kind of life early settlers of Azerbaijan had as well as animals, primitive dances, bullfights and others dated from 5,000 to 20,000 years way back.
Trouble in Nowhere Land
Simon Tisdall, world briefing: When Ganimat Zahidov, editor of the independent Azadlyq newspaper, arrived for work one day in Baku, Azerbaijan, he was accosted by a young woman he had never seen before who started cursing and shouting at him. Moments later 'an athletically built young man popped out of nowhere and began beating me', he said. 'I defended myself as best I could'
Putin Surprises Us With Missile Suggestion
Vladimir Putin sprang a diplomatic surprise yesterday in his dispute with America over the siting of a US missile defence system in Europe, suggesting instead that it could be placed in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan.
Iranians Outraged As Google Redraws Map
· Video places ancient city in Azerbaijan republic · Users urged to blitz search engine over 'insult'
Azerbaijan Condemned for Crackdown
· Protesters baton-charged by riot police in Baku · Use of force 'unjust and unprovoked', says US
Thousands Rally Over Disputed Azerbaijani Election
Thousands of protesters marched through Baku today after claims that last weekend's parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan were rigged.
Officials Give Ground After Election Fraud Allegations
Election officials in the Caspian state of Azerbaijan yesterday annulled the results of Sunday's parliamentary vote in one out of 125 districts and ordered a recount in another, a symbolic concession to US and EU criticism of the election after allegations of fraud.
US and Eu Urge Azerbaijan to Investigate Voting Fraud
The United States and the European Union yesterday called on the Caspian state of Azerbaijan to investigate allegations of fraud during parliamentary elections on Sunday, after western observers said the vote did not meet international standards.
Azerbaijani Ruling Party Claims Victory in Parliamentary Elections
· Opposition alleges widescale ballot box fraud · Activists threaten to stage street demonstrations
Azerbaijan Opposition Activists Arrested on Eve of Election
The authorities in Azerbaijan were accused last night of arresting opposition officials at a critical moment in the run-up to tomorrow's parliamentary elections.
Democracy and Oil Fight It Out for the Future of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, scene of a potentially violent election showdown this weekend, is a country on the make.
Azerbaijan Ministers Accused of Coup Plot
· Economic chief charged with backing exiled leader · President dismisses five officials ahead of elections.
Exiled Opposition Leader Flies Home for Election
The exiled leader of Azerbaijan's opposition movement will return to the capital, Baku, this afternoon, hoping that thousands of supporters will gather to prevent his arrest by the authorities.
Rebellion in the Backyard Puts Paranoid Moscow on the Defensive
World Briefing: Russia's residual neighbourhood watch scheme in what was once the Soviet Union's tightly policed backyard took another knock last week when Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova joined forces in a new "union of democratic states". Simon Tisdall
Waiting in Pain
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has left families of missing soldiers in agonies of uncertainty, reports Nick Paton Walsh.
US Sidles Up to Well-oiled Autocracy
Opposition activists in Azerbaijan accuse America of double standards on rights.
'Mutant fish' fear for Caspian caviar
Hagi puts two fingers beneath the gills of the huge Beluga sturgeon he fished from the Azerbaijani shores of the Caspian Sea hours earlier and grins, lifting it shoulder high. It is a rare and profitable catch these days, its belly brimming with top-quality Beluga caviar worth a black market fortune.
Cries of coup as Azerbaijani MPs vote for president's son to be heir apparent
MPs in the oil-rich state of Azerbaijan voted yesterday to transfer power from the ailing 80-year-old president Haydar Aliyev to his son, a reformed playboy.
Frail Pope Visits Flock of 120 Azeri Faithful
The Pope was too frail to walk off his plane yesterday at the start of a visit to Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic with just 120 registered Roman Catholics, fewer than were on the aircraft.
Pope Reaches Out to Far-flung Followers
Rory Carroll explains why the Pope is visiting Azerbaijan, a country with only two priests and 120 of the world's 1 billion Catholics.