Azerbaijan Country & Tourist Information

Location
Caucasus, western Caspian Sea region.

Area
86,600 sq km (33,400 sq miles).

Population
8.2 million (UN estimate 2008).

Population Density
94.6 per sq km.

Capital
Baku. Population: 2 million (2008).

Government
Democratic Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Language
Azeri. Russian is widely spoken; English may be spoken in Baku and other main centers.

Religion
Mostly Shia Muslim although there are Russian Orthodox and Jewish communities.

Time
GMT + 4.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Artur Rasizada since 2003.

Head of State
President Ilham Aliyev since 2003.

Recent History
Ilham Aliyev, the son of long-term Azeri leader Heydar Aliyev, inherited his father’s office in 2003, albeit through an election the international community widely believed to be unfair. Despite managing to unify and stabilize the country, Azerbaijan is still mired in corruption, and continues to be a dictatorship in all but name with widespread human rights abuses.

Telephone
Country code: 994. International calls from Azerbaijan may be dialed directly from Baku and some other towns throughout the country.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is mostly limited to the capital and main towns and is non-existent in many mountain areas.

Internet
Available in all cities and towns.

Media
There are a number of state-run and public media outlets that compete with private and opposition publications and private broadcasters. Despite official freedom of speech, the Azeri media is tightly controlled and very self-censoring.

Post
International postal services are sometimes disrupted. Delays occur, although letters should normally take 10 to 14 days to arrive. Parcels should be registered or sent by courier services to accelerate the process and ensure against loss.

Press
• Newspapers include Azadliq, Ekho and Zerkalo (in Russian and English).
• The government daily is Azarbaycan.
• The English-language newspaper is Baku-Sun.

Radio
• There is a state broadcaster with two national networks, Azerbaijan Radio 1 and Azerbaijan Radio 2.
• Private-run FM stations include ANS ChM, Radio Lider and Radio Azad Azerbaijan.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
20 Jan Day of the Martyrs.
8 Mar Women's Day.
21 Mar Noruz Bayramy (Persian New Year). 
10 Apr Good Friday.
13 Apr Easter Monday.
9 May Victory Day.
28 May Republic Day.
15 Jun Day of National Salvation.
26 Jun Army and Navy Day.
21 Sep End of Ramadan.
18 Oct Day of Independence.
12 Nov Constitution Day.
17 Nov Day of National Revival.
28 Nov Feast of Sacrifice.
31 Dec Day of Azeri Solidarity.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
20 Jan Day of the Martyrs.
8 Mar Women's Day.
22 Mar Novruz Bayramy (Persian New Year). 
2 Apr Good Friday.
5 Apr Easter Monday.
9 May Victory Day.
28 May Republic Day.
15 Jun Day of National Salvation.
26 Jun Army and Navy Day.
11 Sep End of Ramadan.
18 Oct Day of Independence.
12 Nov Constitution Day.
17 Nov Day of National Revival.
17 Nov Feast of Sacrifice.
31 Dec Day of Azeri Solidarity.

Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Ramazan Bayram, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Ramazan Bayram itself. Ramazan Bayram and Kurban Bayram may last up to several days, depending on the region.

Contact Information:

Embassy of the Rebublic of Azerbaijan in the UK
4 Kensington Court, London W8 5DL, UK
Tel: (020) 7938 3412 or 5482 (consular section).
Website: www.azembassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1800.
Consular opening hours (located on the lower ground floor of above address): Mon-Fri 1000-1300.

Embassy of Azerbaijan in the USA
2741 34th Street, NW, Washington DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 337 3500 or 5912 (consular section).
Website: www.azembassy.com

Azerbaijan Republic Ministry of Youth, Sport & Tourism
1072, Baku City, Olimpiya str. 4, Azerbaijan
Tel: (12) 465 6442.
Website: www.mys.gov.az


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