Profiles of three candidates for Azerbaijan’s ombudsman post

Three candidates have been nominated for the post of Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman): incumbent Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva, Doctor of Law Jeyhun Garajayev and Supreme Court Judge Elshana Valiyeva.

“Operative Information Center-OMM” presents the candidates’ profiles:

1. Sabina Yashar gizi Aliyeva

• Position and activities: She holds a PhD in law and has served as Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman) since 2019. She is also vice-president of the Asian Ombudsman Association and a member of the Board of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ombudsmen Association.
• Family: She is the granddaughter of Gurban Sultanov, a former minister of industrial construction of the Azerbaijan SSR. She is married to Milli Majlis (National Assembly) member Siyavush Novruzov and has two children.
• Awards: She has received the “For Distinction in Public Service” (2013), “For Services in the Field of Military Cooperation” (2020) and “Heydar Aliyev’s 100th Anniversary (1923–2023)” commemorative medals from the President.

2. Jeyhun Mammad oglu Garajayev

• Position and activities: Born in 1965, he is a Doctor of Law and professor. He began his career in 1982 as a court session clerk at the Baku City Court. After graduating from Baku State University, he worked as a lecturer and associate professor at Odessa State Law Academy.
• Career: He served as deputy head of a department at the Milli Majlis Office, was a Constitutional Court judge from 2010 to 2020, and was a member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) from 2015 to 2019.
• Awards: He has received the 3rd Class Order “For Service to the Motherland,” the “Progress” medal, and commemorative medals marking the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev.

3. Elshana Vali gizi Valiyeva

• Position and activities: Born in 1975, Valiyeva graduated from the Faculty of Law at Baku State University. She has been a judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan since 2017 and a member of the Judicial Selection Committee since 2023.
• Career: She began her career in 1992 as a specialist at the Supreme Arbitration Court, then worked as a senior specialist and court session clerk at the Economic Court. She served as a judge at the Narimanov District Court from 2007 to 2010 and at the Baku Court of Appeal from 2010 to 2017.
• Awards: By an order dated February 11, 2023, President Ilham Aliyev awarded her the “Progress” medal.