The Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of Azerbaijan has approved the draft Constitutional Law "On the approval of amendments to the Constitution of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic" in its second vote during today's plenary session.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the updated Constitution will now explicitly reflect the status of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic as an integral part of Azerbaijan. A key addition to the document is the establishment of the Plenipotentiary Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Nakhchivan. This body will execute tasks defined by the President and will be led by a plenipotentiary representative appointed by and directly accountable to the President.
The reform package also introduces a mechanism for the dissolution of the Nakhchivan Milli Majlis. Under the new regulations, the President of Azerbaijan may dissolve the assembly at the request of 31 deputies or in instances where the body is unable to fulfill its constitutionally mandated duties. Furthermore, the term "high-ranking official of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic" has been removed from the Constitution. Future elections to the local assembly will be scheduled by the President of Azerbaijan based on proposals from the Chairman of the Nakhchivan Milli Majlis.
The approved legislation includes several other significant administrative adjustments:
- Closed sessions of the Nakhchivan Milli Majlis may be held at the proposal of the President of Azerbaijan or the national Milli Majlis;
- Laws regarding elections and the status of deputies will require a 31-vote majority, while other laws will require 23 votes;
- The five-year permanent residency requirement in Nakhchivan for the Chairman of the assembly has been abolished;
- Local executive heads will be appointed by the President of Azerbaijan based on the nomination of the Chairman of the Nakhchivan Milli Majlis;
- The Cabinet of Ministers of Nakhchivan will no longer be subordinate to the local assembly and will determine its operational procedures in coordination with the President.
These constitutional amendments aim to streamline the governance of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and ensure closer integration with the central executive authority of Azerbaijan. Nakhchivan, an exclave separated from the main part of Azerbaijan by Armenian territory, holds a strategic position in the region. These reforms are part of a broader initiative to modernize administrative structures and strengthen the unified legal framework across all regions of Azerbaijan.
