AZERTAC-105: A Long, complex, difficult and honorable journey
AZERTAC, a branch of the Russian Telegraph Agency (ROSTA), AzKavRosta, AzerTA, ZagTA, State Telegraph Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers, Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency, and finally Azerbaijan State News Agency...
AZERTAC, which operated under these various names throughout its history, celebrates its 105th anniversary today. Founded on March 1, 1920, by the government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, AZERTAC traversed a complex, difficult, and honorable path as the first national news agency. On March 2 of that year, the first news items signed by AZERTAC were published in the "Azerbaijan" newspaper. Unfortunately, AZERTAC, a legacy of the Republic era, was able to exist as an independent news source for only 58 days.
Following the fall of the ADR, the agency operated as a branch of the Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union (TASS) and underwent seven name changes over 70 years, facing strict censorship. Despite these constraints, it continued to fulfil its historical mission.
After Azerbaijan regained its state independence, the agency's historical name was restored - from March 3, 1995, it was called the State Telegraph Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers, and from January 17, 2000, it became the Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency. By order of President Ilham Aliyev on February 26, 2015, it was rebranded as the Azerbaijan State Information Agency (AZERTAC).
AZERTAC’s journey has been one of resilience. In its early years, it faced severe material and technical limitations. In 1932, it acquired its first teletype machine, the Kleinschmidt, from abroad. A turning point came in 1969 when Heydar Aliyev assumed political leadership in Azerbaijan, spurring progress across the republic. During this period, the national news agency, then called Azerinform, entered a new phase of development. In the 1970s, when TASS modernized its headquarters in Moscow, it equipped Azerinform—following Ukrinform – with state-of-the-art Videoton and later Olivetti computers as a mark of respect for Heydar Aliyev.
Throughout its history, AZERTAC has documented the nation’s journey, chronicling Azerbaijan’s progress. Overcoming numerous challenges, the agency quickly became the country’s primary window to the world following the restoration of independence. Today, as Azerbaijan’s leading news resource, AZERTAC continues to evolve, integrating modern technologies and tools while maintaining its reputation as a reliable and accurate news source.
A pivotal moment in AZERTAC’s history came in 1969 when Heydar Aliyev assumed leadership of the country. Under his guidance, the agency was equipped with state-of-the-art technology, significantly improving the quality and efficiency of its news coverage. At that time, AZERTAC ranked among the most technologically advanced news agencies in the Soviet Union, particularly in computerization.
Following Heydar Aliyev’s vision, the agency’s team continues to uphold the noble traditions of national journalism while striving to strengthen its position in the global media landscape. In recent years, AZERTAC has signed cooperation agreements with nearly 50 international news agencies and exchanges information with media organizations across five continents. It also collaborates closely with leading global news agencies such as Associated Press, Reuters, Press Association, DPA, and Xinhua. AZERTAC is a key member of the News Agencies World Congress Council, the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA), and the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA). From 2016 to 2019, AZERTAC simultaneously chaired both the News Agencies World Congress and OANA, marking a significant milestone in global media history. Last year, at the founding General Assembly of the Alliance of Turkic News Agencies (ATNA) in Istanbul, AZERTAC was elected as ATNA’s Secretary General.
AZERTAC’s news is disseminated through its website (azertag.az), news bulletins, and social media platforms, offering 32 pages in various languages and profiles. Every year, thousands of news articles, videos, and photos about Azerbaijan’s achievements in political, social, economic, scientific, and cultural fields are published on the websites of international and regional media organizations, as well as national news agencies that AZERTAC partners with.
The past 22 years under President Ilham Aliyev's leadership have been a transformative period for AZERTAC, marked by significant advancements in news dissemination. Thanks to continuous attention and support, the agency has become increasingly competitive and equipped with the latest technologies. For more than three years, AZERTAC has operated from a state-of-the-art building, enhancing the quality and efficiency of its information delivery while solidifying its global presence. Today, AZERTAC provides news in eight languages—Azerbaijani, English, Russian, German, French, Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish—while also pioneering video news in five languages in the region. The agency plays a crucial role in conveying Azerbaijan’s realities to nearly every corner of the world and is recognized as a reliable, credible, and impartial source of information on the global stage.
Azerbaijan is currently experiencing the most powerful period in its history. The glorious victory in the Patriotic War, along with successful counterterrorism operations, has led to the full restoration of the country's state sovereignty. Additionally, President Ilham Aliyev’s confident victory in the elections on February 7 last year marked the beginning of a new phase for Azerbaijan. This has also opened new horizons for the country's media. Azerbaijan is undergoing fundamental reforms aimed at modernizing the press and aligning it with global standards. AZERTAC, in line with the challenges of the times and modern requirements, has taken consistent steps to adapt. Recent structural reforms within the agency, the professional enhancement of its staff, the improvement of its correspondent network abroad, and the creative management approach are yielding positive results. This has enabled the agency to continuously update its news architecture and bring information dissemination to international standards. AZERTAC’s logo and website have been updated, and other essential steps have been taken to improve the quality of work. All of these efforts are reflected in the agency's activities.
Founded on the first day of March 1920, AZERTAC today provides continuous 24-hour operational information across all sectors of national life, including public-political, economic, science, education, culture, healthcare, sports, the environment, and more. In 2024 alone, AZERTAC produced over 330,000 pieces of information, including more than 189,000 news articles, over 127,000 photos, and more than 13,000 video news segments, which were distributed through its channels. Through the agency's online resources, it is possible to instantly receive updates on any developments occurring in different parts of the world. Holding a unique position in the global media landscape, AZERTAC is creating a comprehensive and accurate chronicle of the modern history of Azerbaijan, a sovereign and independent country with restored territorial integrity, which has become a reputable force in the world.
