Legal System of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is located in Central Asia. It is geographically situated in southwestern asia, bordering the caspian sea, between iran and russia, with a small european portion north of the caucasus range. The country achieved independence on 30 august 1991 (declared from the soviet union); 18 october 1991 (adopted by the supreme council of azerbaijan). The capital is Baku (Baki, Baky).

Government Overview

Government Type: presidential republic Chief of State: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003) Head of Government: Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly Administrative Divisions: 66 districts (rayonlar; singular - rayon), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular)

districts: Abseron, Agcabadi, Agdam, Agdas, Agstafa, Agsu, Astara, Babak, Balakan, Barda, Beylaqan, Bilasuvar, Cabrayil, Calilabad, Culfa, Daskasan, Fuzuli, Gadabay, Goranboy, Goycay, Goygol, Haciqabul, Imisli, Ismayilli, Kalbacar, Kangarli, Kurdamir, Lacin, Lankaran, Lerik, Masalli, Neftcala, Oguz, Ordubad, Qabala, Qax, Qazax, Qobustan, Quba, Qubadli, Qusar, Saatli, Sabirabad, Sabran, Sadarak, Sahbuz, Saki, Salyan, Samaxi, Samkir, Samux, Sarur, Siyazan, Susa, Tartar, Tovuz, Ucar, Xacmaz, Xizi, Xocali, Xocavand, Yardimli, Yevlax, Zangilan, Zaqatala, Zardab

cities: Baku, Ganca, Lankaran, Mingacevir, Naftalan, Naxcivan (Nakhichevan), Saki, Sirvan, Sumqayit, Xankandi, Yevlax National Holiday: Republic Day (founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Azerbaijan is described as civil law system International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995 Amendment Process: proposed by the president of the republic or by at least 63 members of the National Assembly; passage requires at least 95 votes of Assembly members in two separate readings of the draft amendment six months apart and requires presidential approval after each of the two Assembly votes, followed by presidential signature; constitutional articles on the authority, sovereignty, and unity of the people cannot be amended

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, vice chairman, and 23 judges in plenum sessions and organized into civil, economic affairs, criminal, and rights violations chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) Judge Selection: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis; judges appointed for 10 years; Constitutional Court chairman and deputy chairman appointed by the president; other court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis to serve single 15-year terms Subordinate Courts: Courts of Appeal (replaced the Economic Court in 2002); district and municipal courts

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of unicameral

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: yes Citizenship by Descent: yes Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

Azerbaijan -- a secular nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Shia Muslim population -- was briefly independent (from 1918 to 1920) following the collapse of the Russian Empire; it was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union for seven decades.

Beginning in 1988, Azerbaijan and Armenia fought over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was populated largely by ethnic Armenians but incorporated into Soviet Azerbaijan as an autonomous oblast in the early 1920s.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Azerbaijan based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.