Azerbaiyán

Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a country in the South Caucasus region at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, Iran to the south, and the Caspian Sea to the east. Its capital and largest city is Baku.

Geography and people: Azerbaijan has a varied landscape that includes Caspian coastal plains and the northern Caucasus Mountains. The population is about 10 million, predominantly ethnic Azeris, with minority communities such as Lezgins, Talysh, and Russians. The official language is Azerbaijani; Russian and other minority languages are used as well. The country is largely Muslim (Shia majority with a significant Sunni minority) in a secular state framework.

History: The region has ancient roots and has been ruled by various empires. It became part of the Russian Empire in the 19th century and declared independence in 1918 as the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, often cited as the first secular parliamentary republic in the Muslim world. It joined the Soviet Union in 1922 and regained independence with the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Since then, Azerbaijan has operated as a presidential republic.

Economy and energy: Azerbaijan possesses substantial oil and natural gas resources. Baku hosts major energy projects and export pipelines serving regional and European markets. The energy sector remains central to the economy, complemented by efforts to diversify.

Nagorno-Karabakh: The country has been involved in a long-standing conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. A 2020 war led to a Russian-brokered ceasefire and Azerbaijan regaining control of several districts; peace talks and negotiations continue.