Today Azerbaijan observes Constitution Day, a focal moment in the country’s modern statehood and legal development. The government has designated 2025 as the Year of Constitution and Sovereignty, underlining a renewed emphasis on constitutional principles and civic responsibility.
The Constitution adopted on 12 November 1995 was drafted under the leadership of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and established the foundations of a democratic, constitutional, secular and unitary republic. Since its approval in a nationwide referendum, the document has guided legislative and institutional reforms that aimed to secure independence, sovereignty and the rights of citizens.
The early years after restoration of independence in 1991 were beset by political turbulence and fragile institutions. Between 1991 and 1993, governance shortcomings and weakened public order threatened fundamental freedoms until Heydar Aliyev returned to leadership in 1993 and set the country on a path to stability and reform.
The Constitution’s Preamble places the defense of state independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity at the heart of national policy. For nearly three decades, occupation of some 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognised territory by Armenia limited the full realisation of those principles. Restoring territorial integrity became a central national priority and mobilised broad public resolve.
President Ilham Aliyev formalised the focus for 2025 by issuing a decree on 28 December 2024 declaring the Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty, a move that signals continued commitment to strengthen legal institutions and national unity. As Azerbaijan marks this anniversary, the significance of Constitution Day is reflected in efforts to consolidate statehood and secure long-term stability.
