On July 16, an international conference titled “Modern Trends in Ensuring Constitutional Supremacy through Constitutional Justice” was held to mark the 30th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The event also included the inaugural Congress of the Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of the Turkic World (TÜRK-AY).
According to the Constitutional Court, the visiting foreign delegates began their program by paying tribute at the Alley of Honors, laying flowers at the grave of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the founder of modern independent Azerbaijan. The delegation also visited Victory Park in Baku, placing flowers at the monument.
The conference opened with the National Anthem of Azerbaijan and a specially prepared video presentation. Delegations from constitutional justice bodies of Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Serbia, and Iraq were invited by the Constitutional Court to attend. The event also featured participation from senior representatives of the Milli Majlis, the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Bar Association, the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman), judges and court chairs, legal scholars, and members of the legal community.
Chairman of the Constitutional Court Farhad Abdullayev delivered the opening address, emphasizing the significance of the Constitution’s 30th anniversary and expressing confidence in the value of the discussions. He noted that 2025 marks both the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution and the 5th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s victory in the Patriotic War. Abdullayev underscored the importance of the presidential order issued by President Ilham Aliyev on December 28, 2024, declaring 2025 the “Year of Constitution and Sovereignty”—a major step in strengthening the country’s legal foundation and sovereignty.
He also highlighted National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s pivotal role in establishing Azerbaijan’s legal and constitutional framework. The first Constitution of independent Azerbaijan, adopted by nationwide referendum on November 12, 1995, laid the foundation for legal statehood and the protection of human rights and freedoms.
Abdullayev further stressed that under the leadership of President and Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, and through the courage of Azerbaijani soldiers and officers, Azerbaijan achieved historic victories in the 44-day Patriotic War of 2020 and the local anti-terrorist operation of September 19–20, 2023. These victories fully restored Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and ensured the Constitution’s legal supremacy throughout all liberated territories.
Opening remarks were also delivered by Deputy Speaker of the Milli Majlis Ziyafat Asgarov; Inam Karimov, Chairman of the Judicial-Legal Council and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev; Minister of Justice Farid Ahmadov; Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva; and Chairman of the Presidium of the Bar Association Anar Baghirov.
During the conference’s working session, participants heard presentations from Kadir Özkaya, President of the Constitutional Court of Türkiye; Piotr Miklashevich, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Belarus; Snežana Marković, President of the Constitutional Court of Serbia; Fikrat Mammadov, Judge of the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan; Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Uzbekistan; Domnica Manole, President of the Constitutional Court of Moldova; Munther Ibrahim Hussein, President of the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq; Abdulhafiz Ashurzoda, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Tajikistan; Bertan Özerdağ, President of the Supreme Court of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; Chinara Aidarbekova, Judge of the Constitutional Court of Kyrgyzstan; and Yerkin Ongarbayev, Judge of the Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan. The speakers shared experiences from their respective countries on ensuring constitutional supremacy through constitutional justice. The session included wide-ranging discussions and exchanges.
In his closing remarks, Farhad Abdullayev commended the productivity of the conference, noting that the exchange of experiences from various legal systems enriched the dialogue. Topics included legal reasoning in constitutional court decisions and modern approaches to strengthening constitutional supremacy.
The conference was followed by the first Congress of TÜRK-AY, chaired by Azerbaijan’s Constitutional Court, with participation from full member courts of Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, and honorary guests from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court.
Abdullayev emphasized the significance of the Congress being held in Azerbaijan and noted TÜRK-AY’s growing role as a platform for legal cooperation among Turkic states.
The Congress agenda included national report discussions in preparation for the 6th World Conference on Constitutional Justice, deliberations on TÜRK-AY’s international cooperation, achievements, and future prospects. The Supreme Court of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was granted observer status in TÜRK-AY.
A key outcome of the Congress was the signing of the “Baku Declaration” to promote constitutional justice cooperation among Turkic states. The declaration reaffirmed the spirit of unity and legal collaboration emphasized in the “Garabagh Declaration” adopted at the Organization of Turkic States Summit held on July 6, 2024.
Participants expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for hosting the Congress and extended congratulations on the “Year of Constitution and Sovereignty.” Memoranda of Understanding were also signed between the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan and its counterparts in Türkiye and Iraq.
Chairman Abdullayev praised the Congress as a success and expressed confidence in further strengthening cooperation in constitutional justice within TÜRK-AY.
As part of the program, guests will attend a concert at the Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall on July 17 and take part in events showcasing Azerbaijan’s historical and cultural heritage.