Shabnam Karimova

Shabnam Karimova is a career diplomat with over 15 years of experience in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. She currently serves as First Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Malaysia, where she represents her country’s interests and strengthens bilateral relations.

Her diplomatic career began in 2007 with internships at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by early roles as Attaché in the Secretariat and Press Service. She advanced through positions of increasing responsibility, including Third and Second Secretary in the Press Service and at the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union. She later served as First Secretary in Brussels and at the Ministry’s Department for Cooperation with International Human Rights Institutions before assuming her current posting in Kuala Lumpur in 2023.

Shabnam has completed advanced diplomatic training, including the Advanced Foreign Service Program at ADA University with distinction, as well as international courses on media management, crisis communication, and diplomatic skills for CSDP missions. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Translation and Interpreting from the University of Languages of Azerbaijan.

She is multilingual, with native proficiency in Azerbaijani, fluency in Russian and English, and good command of French. Her linguistic and intercultural skills complement her diplomatic expertise, enabling her to operate effectively in diverse international environments.