The Regulation on the Ministry of Justice of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) was approved on 22 November 1918. Upon the order of the President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, dated 11 November 2000 22 November is noted as the Day of Professional Holiday of the workers of justice.

The justice system is the leading force of any State, especially a democratic and legal society. The system of justice bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan has ancient traditions of statehood, rich history reflecting the struggle for independence of our people and the glorious past of our country.

The glorious history of Azerbaijani justice is connected with the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first democratic state in the East. At that time great importance was attached to the activity of the legal system, and the Ministry of Justice was established on the same day with the foundation of the ADR – 28 May 1918, and Khalil bey Hasmammadov was appointed the first Minister of Justice. The Government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic paid special attention to the establishment of justice institutions. According to the founders of the Republic, the existence of a state based on the rule of law was also connected with the existence of an independent justice institution.

After the occupation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic by Soviet Russia on 13 May 1920, the Ministry of Justice was abolished, and the People’s Commissariat of Labour and Justice was established instead. Later, the People’s Commissariat of Labour and the People’s Commissariat of Justice were established separately.

The establishment of the Ministry of Justice as a full-fledged authority coincides with the period of leadership of our National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Azerbaijan. On 27 October 1970, the Ministry of Justice was established by the resolution of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR, and the stable work was ensured, which created a ground for its smooth development. This experience played the role of the main base for building the further development of the justice system in the first years of Azerbaijan’s independence.

After our country regained its state independence, the justice system in Azerbaijan was not neglected by the great leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev. After his return to power in 1993, consistent and purposeful reforms were carried out, which ensured the development of the justice system, expanded the powers of the Ministry, and increased its role in society.

The main goal of the implemented judicial and legal reforms was to ensure the rule of law in Azerbaijan, to organize the protection of human rights and freedoms at a high level in the administration of justice, and to ensure transparency in the activity of courts.

The foreign policy strategy of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev caused the strengthening of international relations of the Ministry of Justice and laid the foundation for bilateral cooperation in various fields of international legal assistance. Consistent measures implemented in the field of international legal cooperation have played an important role in improving judicial activity.

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has been sensitive to the rule of law from the very beginning of his presidency and attached great importance to the implementation of reforms in the justice system. The Head of State took important decisions to modernize the judicial system and justice bodies, created legal and regulatory framework for the judiciary, adapted the judiciary to international norms and principles, set new important tasks for it, and adopted comprehensive programmes for its further development.

On 26 May 2006, the Head of State signed the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Service in the Justice Bodies, and on 17 August of the same year, the Decree on the Development of the Justice Bodies was also signed. As a result of the reforms implemented, the admission process to the justice bodies has been constantly developing and, after 2006, admission to service in the justice bodies began to be on a competitive basis.

The state program “On the development of Azerbaijani justice for 2009-2013” approved on 6 February 2009 was a successful continuation of the system of purposeful and consistent measures implemented towards the modernization of the national justice system and has played an important role in the effective work of the bodies involved in the implementation of justice.

Notary and registration bodies of the Ministry of Justice also effectively operate in ASAN service centres, which were established on the initiative of the head of our state and have already become a brand of Azerbaijan all over the world.

The year 2018, 22 November, marked the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the judiciary of Azerbaijan. On the eve of the anniversary, a congratulatory letter of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was delivered to the employees of the judiciary and courts on the occasion of the professional holiday, as well as awarding a group of employees of the judiciary and judges with orders and medals, honorary titles and higher special titles for outstanding service in the justice system. The high level shown by the Head of State to the justice system is a clear manifestation of attention and care.

Thanks to the military-political success of our country, the heroism of our victorious army, at the cost of the blood and lives of our martyrs, our people have been reunited with their native lands, which they have longed for 30 years and our territorial integrity was restored. It is also worth noting the role of the members of the justice services in ensuring our territorial integrity. They made great sacrifices in this honourable cause and displayed great bravery from the beginning to the end of the Patriotic War.

Ensuring a life of dignity and economic activity in the regions liberated from occupation, construction and reconstruction works carried out in these areas are the beginning of an important stage in the process of new development of Azerbaijan, as well as further strengthening of the bases of social and economic development of our country. According to the instructions of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, restoration of justice and activity of courts in the liberated territories, creation of infrastructure of these bodies, taking necessary measures on organization of their work are among the important tasks to be accomplished.

Due to high leadership skills of the President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and bravery of our Army, justice workers, who are preparing to celebrate professional holiday given by National Leader Heydar Aliyev in a victorious mood today, as well as all citizens of the victorious country, are earnestly working for development and increasing the comprehensive power of the State.

Recommended literature:

1. Ədliyyə fəaliyyəti mətbuat səhifələrində, 2015 = Media Coverage of Justice Activity, 2015 / bur. məsul R. Həsənov. - Bakı : Ədliyyə Nəşriyyat Evi MMC, 2016. - 810 s.
2. Həsənli, Sona Gülbaba qızı. Cümhuriyyət və hüquqi dövlət quruculuğu : 1918-2018 / S. G. Həsənli ; red. M. Nemətoğlu. - Bakı : Azərbaycan nəşriyyatı, 2018. - 408 s.
3. Azərbaycan Ədliyyəsi davamlı inkişaf yolunda / Azərbaycan Respublikası Ədliyyə Nazirliyi ; bur. məsul R. Həsənov ; red.: E. Qasımov, C. Hüseynov. - Bakı : Ədliyyə Nəşriyyat Evi MMC, 2020. - 270 s.