Azerbaijan's government functions as an authoritarian regime in practice;^[146]^[147]^[148]^[149] although it regularly holds elections, these are marred by electoral fraud and other unfair election practices.^[150]^[151]^[152]^[153]^[154]^[155]^[156] The government has been ruled by the Aliyev political family and the New Azerbaijan Party (Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyası, YAP) established by Heydar Aliyev continuously since 1993.^[157] It is categorised as "not free" by Freedom House,^[158]^[159] who ranked it 7/100 on Global Freedom Score in 2024, calling its regime authoritarian.^[160]

The structural formation of the political system was completed by the adoption of the constitution on 12 November 1995. According to Article 23 of the constitution, the state symbols are the flag, the coat of arms, and the national anthem. The state power is limited only by law for internal issues, but international affairs are also limited by international agreements' provisions.^[161]^{[better source needed]}

The Constitution of Azerbaijan states that it is a presidential republic with three branches of power – executive, legislative, and judicial. The legislative power is held by the unicameral National Assembly and the Supreme National Assembly in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The Parliament of Azerbaijan, called Milli Majlis, consists of 125 deputies elected based on majority vote, with a term of five years for each elected member. The elections are held every five years, on the first Sunday of November. The Parliament is not responsible for the formation of the government, but the constitution requires the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers by Milli Majlis.^[162] The New Azerbaijan Party, and independents loyal to the ruling government, currently hold almost all of the Parliament's 125 seats. During the 2010 Parliamentary election, the opposition parties, Musavat and Azerbaijani Popular Front Party, failed to win a single seat. European observers found numerous irregularities in the run-up to the election and on election day.^[163]

The executive power is held by the president, who is elected for a seven-year term by direct elections, and the prime minister. The president is authorized to form the Cabinet, a collective executive body accountable to both the president and the National Assembly.^[3] The Cabinet consists primarily of the prime minister, his deputies, and ministers. The 8th Government of Azerbaijan is the administration in its current formation. The president does not have the right to dissolve the National Assembly but has the right to veto its decisions. To override the presidential veto, the parliament must have a majority of 95 votes. The judicial power is vested in the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and the Economic Court. The president nominates the judges in these courts.^{[citation needed]}

Azerbaijan's system of governance nominally can be called two-tiered. The top or highest tier of the government is the executive power headed by president. The local executive authority is merely a continuation of executive power. The provision determines the legal status of local state administration on local executive authority (Yerli Icra Hakimiyati), adopted 16 June 1999. In June 2012, the president approved a regulation which granted additional powers to local executive authorities, strengthening their dominant position in local affairs^[164] The Security Council is the deliberative body under the president, and he organizes it according to the constitution. It was established on 10 April 1997. The administrative department is not a part of the president's office but manages the financial, technical and pecuniary activities of both the president and his office.^[165]

Foreign relations

The short-lived Azerbaijan Democratic Republic succeeded in establishing diplomatic relations with six countries, sending diplomatic representatives to Germany and Finland.^[166] The process of international recognition of Azerbaijan's independence from the collapsing Soviet Union lasted roughly one year. The most recent country to recognize Azerbaijan was Bahrain, on 6 November 1996.^[167] Full diplomatic relations, including mutual exchanges of missions, were first established with Turkey, Pakistan, the United States, Iran^[166] and Israel.^[168] Azerbaijan has placed a particular emphasis on its "special relationship" with Turkey.^[169]^[170]

Azerbaijan has diplomatic relations with 158 countries so far and holds membership in 38 international organizations.^[24] It holds observer status in the Non-Aligned Movement and World Trade Organization and is a correspondent at the International Telecommunication Union.^[24] On 9 May 2006 Azerbaijan was elected to membership in the newly established Human Rights Council by the United Nations General Assembly. The term of office began on 19 June 2006.^[171] Azerbaijan was first elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2011 with the support of 155 countries.

Foreign policy priorities include, first of all, the restoration of its territorial integrity; elimination of the consequences of occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven other regions of Azerbaijan surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh;^[172]^[173] integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structure; contribution to international security; cooperation with international organizations; regional cooperation and bilateral relations; strengthening of defense capability; promotion of security by domestic policy means; strengthening of democracy; preservation of ethnic and religious tolerance; scientific, educational, and cultural policy and preservation of moral values; economic and social development; enhancing internal and border security; and migration, energy, and transportation security policy.^[172]

Azerbaijan is an active member of international coalitions fighting international terrorism, and was one of the first countries to offer support after the September 11 attacks.^[174] The country is an active member of NATO's Partnership for Peace program, contributing to peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.^{[citation needed]} Azerbaijan is also a member of the Council of Europe since 2001 and maintains good relations with the European Union. The country may eventually apply for EU membership.^[172]

On 1 July 2021, the US Congress advanced legislation that will have an impact on the military aid that Washington has sent to Azerbaijan since 2012. This was because the packages to Armenia, instead, are significantly smaller.^[175]

Azerbaijan has been harshly criticized for bribing foreign officials and diplomats to promote its causes abroad and legitimize its elections at home, a practice termed caviar diplomacy.^[176]^[177]^[178]^[179] The Azerbaijani laundromat money laundering operation involved the bribery of foreign politicians and journalists to serve the Azerbaijani government's public relations interests.^[180]

Military

The National Army of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was created on 26 June 1918.^[181]^[182] When Azerbaijan gained independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan were created according to the law on the armed forces of 9 October 1991.^[183] The original date of the establishment of the short-lived National Army is celebrated as Army Day (26 June).^[184] As of 2021, Azerbaijan had 126,000 active personnel in its armed forces. There are also 17,000 paramilitary troops and 330,00 reserve personnel.^[185] The armed forces have three branches: the Land Forces, the Air Forces and the Navy. Additionally the armed forces embrace several military sub-groups that can be involved in state defense when needed. These are the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Border Service, which includes the Coast Guard as well.^[26] The Azerbaijani National Guard is a paramilitary force that operates as a semi-independent entity of the Special State Protection Service, an agency subordinate to the president.^[186]

Azerbaijan adheres to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and has signed all major international arms and weapons treaties. Azerbaijan closely cooperates with NATO in programs such as Partnership for Peace and Individual Partnership Action Plan/pfp and ipa. Azerbaijan has deployed 151 of its peacekeeping forces in Iraq and another 184 in Afghanistan.^[187]

Azerbaijan spent $2.24 billion on its defence budget as of 2020^[update],^[188] which amounted to 5.4% of its total GDP,^[189] and some 12.7% of general government expenditure.^[190] Azerbaijani defense industry manufactures small arms, artillery systems, tanks, armors and night vision devices, aviation bombs, UAVs/unmanned aerial vehicle, various military vehicles and military planes and helicopters.^[191]^[192]^[193]^[194]

Human rights and freedom

The constitution claims to guarantee freedom of speech, but this is denied in practice. After several years of decline in press and media freedom, in 2014, the media environment deteriorated rapidly under a governmental campaign to silence any opposition and criticism, even while the country led the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (May–November 2014). Spurious legal charges and impunity in violence against journalists have remained the norm.^[195] All foreign broadcasts are banned in the country.^[196] According to the 2013 Freedom House Freedom of the Press report, Azerbaijan's press freedom status is "not free", and Azerbaijan ranks 177th out of 196 countries.^[197] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America are banned in Azerbaijan.^[198] Discrimination against LGBT people in Azerbaijan is widespread.^[199]^[200]

Christianity is officially recognized. All religious communities are required to register to be allowed to meet, under the risk of imprisonment. This registration is often denied. "Racial discrimination contributes to the country's lack of religious freedom, since many of the Christians are ethnic Armenian or Russian, rather than Azeri Muslim".^[201]^[202]

During the last few years,^[when?] three journalists were killed and several prosecuted in trials described as unfair by international human rights organizations. Azerbaijan had the largest number of journalists imprisoned in Europe in 2015, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, and is the 5th most censored country in the world, ahead of Iran and China.^[203] Some critical journalists have been arrested for their coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Azerbaijan.^[204]^[205]

A report by an Amnesty International researcher in October 2015 points to "...the severe deterioration of human rights in Azerbaijan over the past few years. Sadly Azerbaijan has been allowed to get away with unprecedented levels of repression and in the process almost wipe out its civil society."^[206] Amnesty's 2015/16 annual report^[207] on the country stated "... persecution of political dissent continued. Human rights organizations remained unable to resume their work. At least 18 prisoners of conscience remained in detention at the end of the year. Reprisals against independent journalists and activists persisted both in the country and abroad, while their family members also faced harassment and arrests. International human rights monitors were barred and expelled from the country. Reports of torture and other ill-treatment persisted."^[208]

The Guardian reported in April 2017 that "Azerbaijan's ruling elite operated a secret $2.9bn (£2.2bn) scheme to pay prominent Europeans, buy luxury goods and launder money through a network of opaque British companies .... Leaked data shows that the Azerbaijani leadership, accused of serial human rights abuses, systemic corruption and rigging elections, made more than 16,000 covert payments from 2012 to 2014. Some of this money went to politicians and journalists, as part of an international lobbying operation to deflect criticism of Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, and to promote a positive image of his oil-rich country." There was no suggestion that all recipients were aware of the source of the money as it arrived via a disguised route.^[209]

Administrative divisions

There are 14 economic regions; 66 rayons (rayonlar, singular rayon) and 11 cities (şəhərlər, singular şəhər) under the direct authority of the republic.^[210] Moreover, Azerbaijan includes the Autonomous Republic (muxtar respublika) of Nakhchivan.^[26] The President of Azerbaijan appoints the governors of these units, while the government of Nakhchivan is elected and approved by the parliament of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Baku Economic Region
- Baku^{[lower-alpha 3]}
Absheron-Khizi Economic Region
- Absheron (Abşeron)
- Khizi (Xızı)
- Sumgait^{[lower-alpha 3]} (Sumqayıt)
Central Aran Economic Region
- Aghdash (Ağdaş)
- Goychay (Göyçay)
- Kurdamir (Kürdəmir)
- Ujar (Ucar)
- Yevlakh (Yevlax)
- Yevlakh^{[lower-alpha 3]} (Yevlax; city)
- Zardab (Zərdab)
- Mingachevir^{[lower-alpha 3]} (Mingəçevir)
Mil-Mughan Economic Region
- Beylagan (Beyləqan)
- Imishli (İmişli)
- Saatly (Saatlı)
- Sabirabad (Sabirabad)
Shirvan-Salyan Economic Region
- Bilasuvar (Biləsuvar)
- Hajigabul (Hacıqabul)
- Neftchala (Neftçala)
- Salyan (Salyan)
- Yevlakh (Yevlax)
- Shirvan^{[lower-alpha 3]} (Şirvan)
Mountainous Shirvan economic region
- Aghsu (Ağsu)
- Gobustan (Qobustan)
- Ismayilli (İsmayıllı)
- Shamakhi (Şamaxı)
Ganja-Dashkasan Economic Region
- Dashkasan (Daşkəsən)
- Goranboy (Goranboy)
- Goygol (Göygöl)
- Samukh (Samux)
- Ganja^{[lower-alpha 3]} (Gəncə)
- Naftalan^{[lower-alpha 3]} (Naftalan)
Gazakh-Tovuz Economic Region
- Aghstafa (Ağstafa)
- Gadabay (Gədəbəy)
- Gazakh (Qazax)
- Shamkir (Şəmkir)
- Tovuz (Tovuz)
Guba-Khachmaz Economic Region
- Guba (Quba)
- Gusar (Qusar)
- Khachmaz (Xaçmaz)
- Shabran (Şabran)
- Siyazan (Siyəzən)
East Zangezur Economic Region
- Gubadly (Qubadlı)
- Jabrayil (Cəbrayıl)
- Kalbajar (Kəlbəcər)
- Lachin (Laçın)
- Zangilan (Zəngilan)
Lankaran-Astara Economic Region
- Astara (Astara)
- Jalilabad (Cəlilabad)
- Lankaran (Lənkəran)
- Lerik (Lerik)
- Masally (Masallı)
- Yardimli (Yardımlı)
- Lankaran^{[lower-alpha 3]} (Lənkəran; city)
Nakhchivan Economic Region
- Babek (Babək)
- Julfa (Culfa)
- Kangarli (Kəngərli)
- Ordubad (Ordubad)
- Sadarak (Sədərək)
- Shahbuz (Şahbuz)
- Sharur (Şərur)
- Nakhchivan^{[lower-alpha 3]} (Naxçıvan)
Shaki-Zagatala Economic Region
- Balakan (Balakən)
- Gabala (Qəbələ)
- Gakh (Qax)
- Oghuz (Oğuz)
- Shaki (Şəki)
- Zagatala (Zaqatala)
- Shaki^{[lower-alpha 3]} (Şəki; city)
Karabakh Economic Region
- Aghjabadi (Ağcabədi)
- Barda (Bərdə)
- Aghdam (Ağdam)
- Fuzuli (Füzuli)
- Khojaly (Xocalı)
- Khojavend (Xocavənd)
- Shusha (Şuşa)
- Tartar (Tərtər)
- Khankendi^{[lower-alpha 3]} (Xankəndi)