Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Track: Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev met Armenia’s Security Council secretary Armen Grigoryan in Dilijan, discussing the peace agenda and confidence-building steps, with another meeting planned in Azerbaijan. Human Rights & Justice: Rights defender Rufat Safarov was sentenced to eight years in Azerbaijan, with reporting alleging politically motivated charges and a restricted civic space. Court Appeals: The Baku Court of Appeal continued hearings on appeals by Armenian citizens convicted by Azerbaijan’s military court. Foreign Policy & Pressure: Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis commission said France’s “hybrid threats” against Baku are ongoing, while the European Parliament advanced a push against transnational repression. Security Cooperation: Azerbaijan’s special forces took part in the “Caucasus Eagle 2026” exercise with Türkiye and Georgia, aimed at boosting regional defense readiness. Regional Connectivity: Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan signed documents in Tashkent, including joint gold mine development and critical minerals cooperation, as PMs backed deeper economic ties. International Forums in Baku: The IsDB Group opened its 2026 Annual Meetings under “Regional Integration for Sustainable Prosperity,” alongside youth-focused programming. Religion & Dialogue: Azerbaijan’s religious affairs body met Holy See officials to expand interreligious and intercultural cooperation. Transport & Trade: Reports highlighted ongoing issues with Baku-Tbilisi train ticketing, while Kazakhstan targets major rail transit growth by 2030, reinforcing the Middle Corridor’s role.