Azerbaijan extends COVID land-border closure until 2026

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The measure, in place since the spring of 2020, will now be in effect until January 2026, the state-run media outlet Azertac reported on Monday. Cargo from Georgia, Russia, Iran, and Turkey has remained allowed to enter the country by land. In addition, it is possible to cross into Turkey over land from the exclave of Nakhchivan. Azerbaijan’s borders remain closed despite the World Health Organisation announcing the end of the COVID-19 global health emergency in May 2023. Others have alleged that the border closure remains in place because the family of President Ilham Aliyev financially benefits from the national airline, Azerbaijan Airlines.