Azerbaijan
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- presidential republic
- CONSTITUTION
- approved on November 12, 1995; amended in 2002, 2009, 2016
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on civil law; not subject to the jurisdiction of the ICJ
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, National Assembly (Milli Mejlis)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court (composed of the president, vice president, and 23 judges in plenary session and organized into civil, economic, criminal, and human rights chambers); Constitutional Court (composed of 9 judges); Courts of Appeal (replaced the Economic Court in 2002); district and municipal courts
RELIGIONS
Muslims 97.3% (predominantly Shia), Christians 2.6%, others <0.1, non-affiliated <0.1 (estimate 2020)
From the country
- NOVEMBER 7, 2001AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Vilayat Guliyev,...
The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Vilayat Guliyev, in the presence of Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer, signed five Council of Europe conventions
- AUGUST 17, 2001AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
The Azerbaijani TV station ANS reported that President...
The Azerbaijani TV station ANS reported that President Heydar Aliyev issued a decree pardoning 95 prisoners
- MAY 16, 2001AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
A new law "On extraditing criminals" adopted by the...
A new law "On extraditing criminals" adopted by the Milli Maclis [parliament] states that "in case of death penalty, a criminal can be extradited only if the demanding country gives enough guarantees that the punishment will not be carried out
- JANUARY 25, 2001AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
Azerbaijan was officially admitted to the Council of Europe
Azerbaijan was officially admitted to the Council of Europe
- JANUARY 1, 2001AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
Azerbaijan has observed a moratorium on executions...
Azerbaijan has observed a moratorium on executions since 1993, motivated by the desire to join the Council of Europe which has coaxed prospective members to eliminate the death penalty
- NOVEMBER 7, 2000AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
The Committee of CE Foreign Ministers' Council (permanent...
The Committee of CE Foreign Ministers' Council (permanent representatives of member countries) postponed its decision on the admission of Azerbaijan into the Council of Europe
- JUNE 28, 2000AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly voted...
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly voted in favour of the Azerbaijani application for membership to the Council of Europe
- APRIL 28, 2000AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev was included in...
Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev was included in the list of nominees under consideration for the Nobel Peace Prize
- APRIL 26, 2000AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
Azerbaijan cosponsored the resolution on the death...
Azerbaijan cosponsored the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 26 (no
- MARCH 8, 2000AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
Eldar Zeynalov said that over that period, nearly 50...
Eldar Zeynalov said that over that period, nearly 50 prisoners had died before the death penalty was executed
- FEBRUARY 14, 2000AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
Eldar Zeynalov, director of the Human Rights Resource...
Eldar Zeynalov, director of the Human Rights Resource Centre, said that according to data from the Supreme Court a total of 170 people were executed between 1992 and February 1998
- JANUARY 1, 2000AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
Azerbaijan has observed a moratorium on executions...
Azerbaijan has observed a moratorium on executions since 1993, motivated by the desire to join the Council of Europe which has coaxed prospective members to eliminate the death penalty