Sweeping Constitutional Changes Centralize Power in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

Nakhchivan

Baku, Azerbaijan – In a significant move reshaping the political landscape of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR), Azerbaijan's National Assembly has adopted sweeping constitutional amendments that fundamentally alter the autonomous region's governance, centralizing substantial power with the President of Azerbaijan. The draft law, titled "On the Approval of Amendments to the Constitution of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic," was passed in its third reading on July 8th.

These changes are poised to diminish the traditional autonomy of the Nakhchivan Supreme Assembly and its Chairman, marking a new chapter in the relationship between Baku and its landlocked exclave.

The constitutional overhaul comes after a period of notable shifts in Nakhchivan's leadership. For decades, the NAR Supreme Assembly was chaired by Vasif Talibov, who held the position from December 1995 until his resignation in 2022. His departure heralded a series of changes, including President Ilham Aliyev sending his authorized representative to Nakhchivan on December 22, 2022. This was followed by investigations into several high-ranking officials in the autonomous republic on charges of embezzlement and other accusations, signaling a more direct involvement from Baku.

Historically, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was established in 1924 and shares no land border with the main territory of Azerbaijan, instead bordering Turkey, Armenia, and Iran. Its autonomous status was historically rooted in international treaties, a reference now being removed from its constitutional preamble. The revised preamble now emphasizes the NAR's status as an "inseparable part of the Republic of Azerbaijan," anchoring its constitutional foundation on Azerbaijan's own independence declarations.

The adopted amendments introduce two new articles, remove one, and modify several others, including the preamble. The most impactful changes include:

Redefinition of the Supreme Assembly Chairman's Role: The Chairman of the Nakhchivan Supreme Assembly will no longer hold the status of the "autonomous republic's highest-ranking official." While some of the Chairman's powers are formally expanded (such as submitting proposals to the President for Supreme Assembly elections, presenting information on public-political life, and representing Nakhchivan in international relations), these are now largely subject to or in coordination with the Azerbaijani presidency.

Establishment of Presidential Representation: A new article formally creates an "Authorized Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic." This body is designated as an executive organ responsible for fulfilling duties determined by the Azerbaijani President, with its head appointed and dismissed directly by the President.

Presidential Power to Dissolve the Supreme Assembly: A new article outlines that the President of Azerbaijan can now dissolve the Nakhchivan AR Supreme Assembly at its own request, at the request of 31 deputies, or if it becomes unable to exercise its powers. Legal experts have noted that procedures for dissolving the Supreme Assembly were previously undefined in both the Azerbaijani and Nakhchivan Constitutions.

Increased Presidential Authority over Elections and Appointments: The President of Azerbaijan will now appoint elections to the NAR Supreme Assembly based on the Chairman's proposals. Furthermore, heads of local executive authorities in the NAR will be appointed by the Azerbaijani President, following proposals from the Supreme Assembly Chairman.

Cabinet of Ministers' New Chain of Command: The Nakhchivan Cabinet of Ministers will no longer be subordinate to its own Supreme Assembly. Instead, its working procedures will be determined in agreement with the President of Azerbaijan, and it will be able to establish and abolish central executive bodies with the President's consent.

Changes to Eligibility and Sessions: The requirement for candidates for the Supreme Assembly Chairman to have resided permanently in Nakhchivan for at least five years has been abolished. Additionally, rules for Supreme Assembly sessions have been updated, with two regular spring and autumn sessions annually, and extraordinary sessions convened at the initiative of the Chairman or at the request of the President of Azerbaijan, the National Assembly, or 16 deputies. The possibility of holding closed sessions based on presidential or National Assembly proposals has also been introduced.

These constitutional amendments signify a profound shift towards greater centralization of power, effectively bringing Nakhchivan's governance more directly under the purview of Baku. While the autonomous republic retains its name, the practical implications of these changes suggest a significant reduction in its self-governing capacities, aligning it more closely with other administrative-territorial units within Azerbaijan's unitary state structure. This move is expected to streamline governance and reinforce Baku's authority over the strategic exclave.