| Government in Azerbaijan- Hükümet |
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| Country name:
-conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republic -conventional short form: Azerbaijan -local form: Azerbaycan Respublikasi -formerly: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Map of Azerbaijan |
ISO3166
country codes: AZ, AZE, 031. Data code: AJ
Government type: republic
National capital:
Baku (Baki)
Independence:
30 August 1991 (from the USSR)
National holiday:
Independence Day/ Day of the Republic: 28 May (celebrates Azerbaijan's
pre-Soviet declaration of independence in 1918)
Constitution:
Prepared by the 'Commission for draft preparation of new Constitution of
the Azerbaijan Republic' under the chairmanship of the President of the
Azerbaijan Republic, adopted on 12 of November 1995 by the Referendum
of the Azerbaijan Republic. Came into force since 27 of November 1995.
Full
text (in English). Issues relating to compliance with the constitution
are under the scope of the Constitutional
Court.
Legal system: based on civil law system.
The legal system of Azerbaijan has changed little from the system of the Soviet period. The national Supreme Court serves as a court of appeals; below it are two levels of judicial jurisdiction, the district and municipal courts.
These
courts, supposedly independent, are not immune to political manipulation,
as evidenced by Aliyev's ouster of the chief justice of the Supreme Court
in July 1993 because of the judge's support for Elchibey and the APF.
Trials are generally
public, and defendants have the right to choose their own attorney, be
present at their own trials, confront witnesses, present evidence, and
appeal the verdict. In cases involving national security or sex offenses,
a judge may decide to hold a closed trial. Despite the other stipulated
rights of the defendant, the presumption of innocence has not been incorporated
specifically into the criminal code. Thus the decision of the state prosecutor
to bring a case to trial has considerable bearing on the final verdict.
(source:
Library of Congress)
-chief of state:
President
Ilham
Aliyev (since October 2003)
should you
need to contact the president, the telephone is: 651011
(the president's
office is on 19 Istiglaliet street, Baku 370066 - the 'White House')
-
head
of government:
prime minister Artur Rasizade (since October 2003)
should you
need to contact the prime minister, the telephone is: 925344
-cabinet: Council
of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
(Milli Mejlis)
(the council
of ministers is on 68 Lermontov street, Baku 370066 - tel. 924422)
During
the recent years the government has managed to keep some political, social
and economic stability. However it is accused by the opposition parties
of corruption, nepotism and inefficiency. Great influence at all levels
is exerted by several groups, among them: the presidential circle, the
army, the interior ministry and the border police.
Standards
of living are still low and, if the new oil revenues do not appear to percolate
at all down to the general population, there is scope for social and political
unrest. While the government's authoritarian methods have contained serious
political opposition to date, this makes it even more likely that, when
the Aliyev dynasty finally relinquishes power, the country could face political
turmoil.
Ministries
| Ministry
of Agriculture and Food
4 Shikali Gurbanov, 370078 Tel. 945355 Fax 944334 |
Ministry
of Finance
6 S. Vurgun Tel. 933012 Fax 987969 |
Ministry
of Material Resources
83/23 Alekperov Tel. 394296 Fax 399176 |
| Ministry
of Communications
33 Azerbaijan av, 370139 Tel. 930004 Fax 934480 |
Ministry
of Foreign Affairs
3 Gyanjlik sq. Tel. 923401 Fax 988480 |
Ministry
of National Security
2 Parlamentsky av. Tel. 950491 Fax 936296 |
| Ministry
of Culture
Government House, 370016 Tel. 934398 Fax 935605 |
Ministry
of
Information and Press
12 A. Javad Tel. 926357 Fax 929333 |
Ministry
of Public Health
4 Kichic Sahil Tel. 932977 Fax 934646 |
| Ministry
of Defence
3 Azizbayov av, 370073. Tel. 929250 Fax 980879 |
Ministry
of Internal Affairs
(Icisleri Bakanligi) 7 H. Hajiyev Tel. 909222 Fax NA |
Ministry
of Trade
23 Niyazi Tel.921531 Fax 987431 |
| Ministry
of Economy
Government House, 370016 Tel. 936920 Fax 932025 |
Ministry
of Justice
13 Bul-Bul av. Tel. 984941 Fax 985931 |
Ministry
of Youth and Sport
98a F. Khoisky av. Tel. 981426 Fax 643650 |
| Ministry
of Education
Government House Tel. 937266 Fax 984207 |
Ministry
of Labour and Social Welfare
Government House Tel. 930542 Fax 939472 |
Ministry
of Foreign Economic Relations
68 Lermontov st., 370066 Tel. 929390 |
| Ministry
of Local Industry
Government House, 370016 Tel. 985325 |
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Elections:
The current constitution institutes a strong presidential system. The president
is elected by popular vote to a five-year term. The 2003 presidential election
was classified as not fair by the OSCE (next elections: October 2008).
The prime minister and first deputy prime ministers are appointed by the
president and confirmed by the National Assembly. Prospective ministers
do not have to be MPs.
Local power is weak, Azerbaijan held its first post-Soviet local elections only on December 1999, filling about 21.000 local power positions. The Council of Europe has stated that the local elections in Azerbaijan were marked by serious violations which could effect the result.
Legislative
branch: unicameral National Assembly or "Milli Mejlis" (with 125 seats;
like the President, the Milli Mejlis members serve five-year terms). There
is one empty seat for the Nagorno-Karabakh representative. The last parliamentary
election of the millennium was held in November 2000, and again the OSCE
reported ballot-stuffing, intimidation of opposition party members, and
manipulation of turnout figures. According to the OSCE and the Council
of Europe the counting process was completely flawed. The government party,
Yeni Azarbaycan, elected 79 MPs, from a list headed by president Aliyev's
son Ilham.
In
this site you can also find the English translation of some of the laws
most relevant for foreigners living, visiting or doing business in Azerbaijan,
see legislation. The parliament is located on
1 Parliament street, Baku 370152 - tel. 926675.
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties:
People's
Democratic Party of Azerbaijan - Rafig Turabxanly
Ana
Vatan Party (Patriotic) - Fazail Agamali
As
in Turkey, Azerbaijan also banned its Islamic party, arresting
and sentencing the leaders to prison terms in 1997, on charges of spying
for Iran. In November 1999 the authorities in pardoned three of the jailed
leaders. The President, Haidar Aliyev, signed a decree pardoning Alikram
Aliyev, Vagif Gasymov and Hajiaga Nuriyev, saying they had "shown repentance
for their crimes". Currently the Azerbaijan Muslim
Democratic Party represents the Islamic political wing.
During
the spring of 2000 several other opposition leaders were arrested when
demonstrating for free elections. The winter of 2000 brought new demonstrations
this time protesting against fraud in the general elections. As one diplomat
says, it feels and looks a bit like a slightly seedy Gulf emirate.
Political pressure groups:
Membership in
international
organisations:
UN
(March 1992),| see also: human rights, NGOs, legislation, history, geography, people, Heydar Aliyev, places, summary, Baku airport, images |
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