October 1 marks the 107th anniversary of the establishment of prosecutor's offices in Azerbaijan and the professional holiday of prosecutor's office employees.
According to the Decree signed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev on July 17, 1998, October 1 is celebrated annually as the professional holiday of the employees of the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The history of prosecutor's offices in our country dates back to the period of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. After the fall of the Republic, along with independent state bodies, prosecutor's and investigative bodies were also abolished. The foundation of the Soviet prosecutor's office in Azerbaijan was laid by the Decree of the Central Executive Committee of Azerbaijan dated July 11, 1922, "On the State Prosecutor's Office of the Azerbaijan SSR." After the restoration of state independence and the return of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev to power in 1993, a new era began in the activities of prosecutor's offices.
The 1995 Constitution of independent Azerbaijan recognized the prosecutor's office as a unified centralized body based on the subordination of territorial and specialized prosecutor's offices to the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In accordance with this status, the directions of the prosecutor's office's activities were fully defined by the Law "On the Prosecutor's Office" dated December 7, 1999. Based on the referendum act "On making amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan," which came into force on September 19, 2002, the prosecutor's office was also granted the right of legislative initiative.
The formation of the Azerbaijani Prosecutor's Office as a state institution in line with international standards was made possible by the consistent and purposeful reforms carried out by Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and his worthy successor, President Ilham Aliyev. President Ilham Aliyev's policy, which successfully implemented the strategic development concept defined by National Leader Heydar Aliyev and elevated it to a qualitatively new level, has yielded results in building a legal state and civil society in Azerbaijan, protecting human rights and freedoms, and establishing democratic institutions. In accordance with the political will of the head of state, purposeful steps have been taken to renew the personnel corps of the prosecutor's office based on transparent procedures.
The approval of the "State Program for the Modernization of the Activities of the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2009-2011" by the President's Decree dated September 27, 2008, was an exceptionally important step for the comprehensive modernization of national prosecutor's offices and the establishment of their work on a completely new level. This program resulted in the implementation of concrete measures aimed at increasing the role of the prosecutor's office in the country's legal system, improving coordinated activities with other law enforcement agencies, creating a centralized information and communication system, enhancing the professionalism of employees, forming a new generation of prosecutor's office employees, strengthening their social protection, and improving the material and technical provision of the prosecutor's office.
In order to achieve high-quality execution of the tasks set by President Ilham Aliyev before the prosecutor's offices, urgent measures have been implemented in the past period. According to the Decree of the head of our state dated June 16, 2020, a new structure of the Prosecutor General's Office was approved.
During the 44-day Patriotic War, which resulted in a brilliant Victory, the prosecutor's offices also honorably and properly fulfilled their duties. Criminal cases were initiated under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the provocations committed by Armenia against our civilian population and infrastructure facilities, and a high-quality investigation was conducted. Especially during the war, the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan addressed appeals to the Prosecutors General of various countries and relevant international organizations regarding the bloody crimes committed by the Armenian armed forces against our civilian population.
Furthermore, the "Strategic Development Concept of the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2020-2023," which defines the development directions of the prosecutor's offices, has created conditions for achieving successful results in fulfilling the tasks facing the institution, improving its activities, and increasing efficiency.
Intensification of work towards expanding international cooperation of the prosecutor's office has opened up wide opportunities for prosecutor's office employees to organize their work in accordance with modern standards. Numerous measures have been taken by the Azerbaijani Prosecutor's Office in establishing relations with prosecutor's offices of foreign countries and specialized international organizations. Delegations from several countries have visited Azerbaijan, and delegations led by the Prosecutor General have also visited foreign countries.
The next conceptual document adopted by the Decree of the President of Azerbaijan dated April 4, 2022 – the "National Action Plan for Strengthening the Fight Against Corruption for 2022-2026" – is Azerbaijan's roadmap for the reintegration of liberated territories into the country's economy. A detailed analysis of this document, which encompasses comprehensive measures in the fight against corruption, allows for predicting what positive results its implementation will yield in the future.
Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and with the close participation of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, prosecutor's offices are also contributing to the magnificent reconstruction and restoration work aimed at bringing life back to Karabakh and East Zangazur. Thus, the creation of the "Electronic Prosecutor's Office" Information System, as well as the implementation of necessary measures for staffing the prosecutor's office with professional personnel, remain in focus.
At the heart of the systematic reforms carried out in prosecutor's offices is the recruitment of knowledgeable young people with a modern worldview and high moral qualities into service. As a result of competitive recruitment, young lawyers today constitute a large part of the prosecutor's office's personnel corps.
Azerbaijan's prosecutor's offices successfully continue their responsible and honorable service duties in the liberated territories as well. In these territories, necessary infrastructure is being created in the district (city) prosecutor's offices, and administrative buildings are being put into operation for the provision of services.
In accordance with the instructions and recommendations of President Ilham Aliyev, the cooperation of the Azerbaijani Prosecutor's Office with prosecutor's offices of foreign countries and influential international organizations has further intensified.
From May 19 to 23 of the current year, the Sixth Plenary Meeting of the United Nations Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities – GlobE Network – was held in Baku. Representatives from over 120 state institutions representing 92 countries, including prosecutor's offices, independent anti-corruption organizations, and international institutions, participated in this prestigious event. In total, more than 300 representatives attended the event physically, while over 60 participants followed it online. The Baku Plenary Meeting of the GlobE Network is regarded as an important platform for strengthening international cooperation, exchanging best practices, and formulating effective approaches in the fight against corruption.
Within the framework of the "Year of Constitution and Sovereignty," and also on the eve of the professional holiday and 107th anniversary of the Azerbaijani Prosecutor's Office, an international conference in a round table format titled "On Guard of Sovereignty: The Status of the Prosecutor's Office in the Constitution" was held in Baku on September 22, organized by the Prosecutor General's Office. During the exchange of views, the importance of strengthening the constitutional status of prosecutor's offices and organizing their activities in a transparent, effective manner in accordance with the principles of a legal state was particularly emphasized. International experience and examples of cooperation were also discussed, and prospects for developing prosecutorial activities, improving the law enforcement system, and further strengthening justice in our country were identified.
Currently, employees of the Azerbaijani Prosecutor's Office, celebrating their 107th anniversary and professional holiday with a spirit of Victory as citizens of a victorious country, tirelessly work to ensure the rule of law, effectively combat crime, and reliably protect citizens' rights by structuring their activities in accordance with new challenges, the demands of the modern era, and international standards.