Azerbaijan – 2024: Strengthening sovereignty and advancing progress Year in review

As 2024 draws to a close, it has been another eventful year for Azerbaijan, following in the footsteps of its predecessors. Rather than offering a broad overview, we will focus on key moments that have had a profound impact. Covering all the significant events in detail would require more than one article, so we will highlight those that are not only of critical importance to Azerbaijan but also have a far-reaching influence beyond the region.

To gain a deeper understanding, it is worthwhile to view the events of 2024 through the lens of the goals set by President Ilham Aliyev at the start of the year, as outlined in his January interview with local media and his February inaugural speech. This approach allows us to clearly see how the strategic objectives defined by the head of state have been realized throughout the year.

Therefore, attention must be drawn to President Ilham Aliyev’s initial emphasis that Azerbaijan is entering 2024 as a nation and people that has fully restored its sovereignty. The direction of this statement was clearly understood by all, and it was reinforced in September during the first session of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of the 7th convocation. The President noted that, for the first time in the history of independent Azerbaijan, both presidential and parliamentary elections were held across the entire territory of the country. Describing this event as historically significant, alongside the outcomes of the Second Karabakh War and the complete restoration of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, he expressed confidence that 2024 will be remembered in history precisely for this reason. This is undoubtedly a truly historic achievement.

Another significant achievement of the year was the outstanding success of Baku's COP29, further underscored by President Ilham Aliyev’s statement that hosting COP29 in Baku will greatly enhance the country's international reputation as a demonstration of Azerbaijan's growing capabilities. Notably, during COP29, Article 6 of the Paris Agreement was fully endorsed, unlocking new investment opportunities in the developing world. The New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance sets a target for developed countries to increase their climate action financing for developing nations, raising the annual mobilization from $100 billion to a minimum of $300 billion by 2035.

In relation to Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev stated at the beginning of the year that hosting COP29 in Baku reflects the country’s commitment to the green agenda. In this context, it is important to note that through the implementation of renewable energy projects, Azerbaijan is building the necessary infrastructure to create a green energy corridor connecting the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, and Europe. This includes the development of solar and wind power plants with foreign investment. These efforts will contribute to the construction of power plants in Azerbaijan with a total capacity exceeding 11 GW.

At the same time, it is clear that, despite any misconceptions, Azerbaijan remains committed to its traditional energy agenda. From the start of the year until early December, gas exports reached nearly 23 billion cubic meters, while oil and condensate production stood at just under 27 million tons, with over 22 million tons being exported.

Looking at the outcomes of 2024, it is worth recalling President Ilham Aliyev's emphasis from eleven months ago on the investment program ("megaprojects") in the context of Karabakh and East Zangezur. In the spring, highlighting that water resources in these regions make up 25% of the country’s total water resources, the president noted the implementation of major infrastructure projects, work on which is ongoing. Notably, this includes the opening of the Khachinchay reservoir and the planned inaugurations of the Zabukhchay, Kondalanchay, Hakarichay, and Bergushadchay reservoirs and canals.

At the same time, President Aliyev emphasized that Karabakh and East Zangezur represent a "green" energy zone, stating that only renewable energy sources will be used there, which will not only meet the needs of the population and industry but will also be highly beneficial for the rest of the country. In September, the president revealed that the total amount spent on the revival of Karabakh and East Zangezur since the end of the war, and the amount planned for use by the end of this year, stands at 19 billion manats ($11.1 billion). The vast majority of these funds have been directed toward infrastructure projects.

In the first half of 2024 alone, nine projects with a total investment of 68 million manats ($40 million) were approved in the Aghdam Industrial Park, and six projects worth 42.7 million manats ($25 million) were approved in the Araz Valley Economic Zone Industrial Park. To date, 32 hydroelectric power stations have been constructed or reconstructed in Karabakh and East Zangezur. In September, the largest hydroelectric power station in Kalbajar was inaugurated.

On September 20, Azerbaijan’s National Sovereignty Day, President Ilham Aliyev participated in the reopening of Karabakh University after its renovation, where he highlighted the importance of educating the youth in the national spirit, with a commitment to their culture, traditions, and spiritual values. Three days later, the academic process resumed at the university, with over 1,100 students enrolled.

Throughout the month, the president also toured various restoration projects. He visited the village of Kangarli in the Aghdam district, where ongoing restoration works were underway, and participated in the opening of several renovated and newly built facilities, including the Imaret Complex, a factory for automation systems and telemechanics, and the Aghdam City Hotel in Aghdam. He also visited the restored Uzeyir Hajibeyov House-Museum in Shusha, toured the ongoing construction of the Aghdam-Asgaran-Khojaly-Khankendi road, and reviewed the progress on the construction of the Congress Center in Khankendi's Victory Square.

Additionally, the construction of a bridge connecting the East Zangezur economic region with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) is nearing completion.

At the beginning of the year, President Ilham Aliyev stated that the implementation of infrastructure projects in Karabakh and East Zangezur would enable Azerbaijan to return even more displaced persons to their ancestral lands this year — to Shusha, Jabrayil, Kalbajar, Khankendi, and Khojaly. By June, the resettlement of 50 families in Khojaly was already a reality, with plans to double this number by the end of the year. This news was truly significant, as it marked the beginning of Khojaly's revival, with the first resettlement taking place on May 28, Independence Day. Subsequently, the return of residents to the village of Karkijahan, the settlement of Malibayli in the Khojaly district, and the village of Umudlu in the Agdara district began. In December, keys to new homes were handed over to 48 families in the village of Ballija in the Khojaly district.

At present, nearly 35,000 people are living in the territories liberated from occupation (with 6,000 residents in Khankendi). More than 20,000 specialists are involved in construction and restoration work. Additionally, as of November 1, 2024, the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) under the Ministry of Economy received over 2,500 applications from entrepreneurs (more than 500 of them from abroad) regarding business activities in the liberated areas of Azerbaijan.

In the early months of 2024, President Ilham Aliyev also emphasized, in relation to the Karabakh issue, that the arrested war criminals responsible for waging a bloody war against Azerbaijan, committing vandalism, and carrying out the Khojaly genocide would be held accountable before justice. As he expressed in his distinctive manner, "They could never have imagined that their wishes to have tea in Baku would be fulfilled like that and that they would be sitting in the detention centre in Baku and waiting for the court judgment." On December 17, the criminal case against these war criminals was forwarded to court. Just recently, the indictment against Ruben Vardanyan was sent to the Baku Military Court for review.

Another key achievement of the year was the implementation of a goal set by the president in early 2024 regarding the eight villages still under occupation: "These include enclave and non-enclave villages. The non-enclave villages must be unconditionally returned to Azerbaijan." This objective was fulfilled in May, when Yerevan returned four villages that had been occupied during the First Karabakh War: Baghanis Ayrim, Ashagy Askipara, Kheyrimli, and Gizilhajili in the Gazakh district.

The list of significant outcomes for the year does not end there. In September, during his speech at the unveiling of the monument to the renowned Ashig Alasgar in Baku, President Ilham Aliyev stated "Our compatriots from Karabakh and East Zangezur, who had not seen those lands before, are eagerly and impatiently waiting for the day of their return. They are looking forward to the implementation of the Great Return program." He expressed confidence that a similar process would occur when returning to Western Azerbaijan. In this context, the opening of the monument to Ashig Alasgar is seen as an event "a symbol that invites all Western Azerbaijanis and indeed all the people of Azerbaijan to unite for one cause." He added, "I believe and you believe in that too. The day will come when we will restore the statue of Ashiq Alasgar destroyed by Armenians and hold a similar ceremony in Agkilsa village."

The strength of this message is further underscored by President Aliyev's earlier statement in 2024, in which he emphasized that Yerevan is an ancient Azerbaijani city, where the Azerbaijani people have lived for centuries. Regarding Zangezur, he stressed that it is entirely Azerbaijani territory, not east or west, but the whole of Zangezur is part of Azerbaijan.

In his message to the participants of the Second International Conference on “The Right to Return: Advancing Justice for Azerbaijanis Expelled from Armenia” organized by the Western Azerbaijan Community earlier this month, the president reaffirmed that Armenia must begin negotiations with this organization to take steps "to restore the fundamental rights of Western Azerbaijanis."

Another significant outcome of 2024 is the strengthening of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Reflecting on the early months of the year, President Ilham Aliyev described efforts within the OTS as "a priority for us," emphasizing that "our family is the Turkic world." As a result, recognizing the insufficient current budget of the organization to achieve its goals, at the 11th OTS summit in Bishkek, the president expressed hope that financial contributions from Baku – $2 million to the OTS Secretariat and $100,000 to the Council of Elders – would help further enhance the organization's capacity.

Simultaneously, President Aliyev placed particular focus on the importance of cooperation in the fields of defence, security, and the defence industry. At the informal OTS summit in Shusha, he highlighted the importance of positioning the OTS as one of the power centres on a global scale, viewing the 21st century as the century of the prosperity of the Turkic world.

The support from OTS member states was especially evident during the tragic plane crash of the Baku-bound flight heading to Grozny, underscoring the solidarity among the Turkic states in times of crisis.

In line with Azerbaijan's geopolitical efforts to strengthen its global authority, the enhanced role of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) stands out as a key development. In the early months of 2024, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the group "will contribute to exposing French neocolonialism and to the process of freeing French colonies from the French colonial yoke."

Additionally, President Aliyev underscored Azerbaijan’s support for small island states, both as the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement and as the chair of COP29, expressing that Azerbaijan would continue to support its friends in the future. As a result, BIG has organized over 20 international events aimed at assisting countries suffering from neocolonialism and striving for independence. Notably, at COP29, the group held a conference focused on decolonization and a green future, and two weeks ago, in Paris, just in front of the Eiffel Tower, it held an event dedicated to "Decolonization Day," supported by participants from movements advocating for the independence of former French colonies.

As we continue to reflect on the outcomes of 2024, attention is drawn to a significant statement made by President Ilham Aliyev just a few days ago, emphasizing Azerbaijan's contribution to "detente" in the global context—an essential term in international discourse. Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan is perceived in both the West and the East as an entirely independent player pursuing an autonomous foreign policy, and this unique positioning makes Baku’s efforts increasingly relevant. Indeed, the president highlighted that there are not many countries trusted by both poles of the world.

This statement aligns with the president’s earlier assertion in the beginning of the year that today's Azerbaijan is, quite literally, among the strongest countries in the world. Supporting this, we can consider key developments such as the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the country (a significant shift that had previously been noted in relation to the Gabala Radar Station). As a result, Azerbaijan now operates without foreign military bases or contingents on its territory, further solidifying its independent stance.

It is difficult to even attempt to summarize the events of 2024, as so many significant milestones have occurred throughout the year, each one contributing to a broader picture of Azerbaijan's ongoing achievements. As mentioned at the outset of this evaluation, this is not the final word but rather a loud ellipsis. However, there is one more crucial point that must not be overlooked.

Earlier in the year, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the "brilliant victory" in the Second Karabakh War once again demonstrated the greatness of the Azerbaijani people. All ethnic groups and nations living in Azerbaijan are united under the flag of the state, the president stated. "In this historic Victory, every nation living in our country has made its own valuable contribution." Aliyev further highlighted that the ideology and principles of Azerbaijani nationalism, inherited from National Leader Heydar Aliyev, have long been established in the state, fostering a unified and harmonious society. "All peoples living in Azerbaijan live like a single and friendly family," he said. "Those who want to undermine our unity, no matter how hard they try, have not succeeded and never will succeed."

In his address to the participants of the Forum of Religious Leaders of Azerbaijan, held in Baku just under a week ago, the president drew particular attention to the fact that preserving the ethnic and cultural diversity in the society, promoting and encouraging the rich values of multiculturalism, is one of the main directions of Azerbaijan’s state policy. 

In this light, we quote the powerful words of President Ilham Aliyev: "We have proven to the whole world that we are a great nation, that we are in charge of our own destiny, that we are capable of solving the problems facing the country ourselves without anyone's help, and we are solving them once and for all."

On this note, we leave an ellipsis... Simply proclaiming: "Welcome, 2025 – The Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty."