Today marks the adoption of the main law of the Republic of Azerbaijan — the Constitution.

Axar.az reports that the country’s Constitution was adopted 30 years ago — on November 12, 1995 — through a nationwide referendum.

This was the first Constitution after the restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence.

The first Constitution of the Azerbaijani state was adopted on May 19, 1921, at the First All-Azerbaijan Congress of Soviets. A new version of the Constitution of the Azerbaijan SSR, adjusted to the 1921 USSR Constitution, was adopted on March 14, 1925, at the Fourth All-Azerbaijan Congress of Soviets. The last Constitution of the Azerbaijan SSR, adopted on April 21, 1978, though aligned with the USSR Constitution, retained certain unique features.

After the restoration of independence, intensive work began on the new Constitution. In 1994, under the chairmanship of President Heydar Aliyev, the Constitutional Commission started its activities, and the draft was submitted for public discussion in 1995. On November 12, 1995, through a nationwide referendum, the first Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan was adopted.

The new Constitution of Azerbaijan consists of 5 sections, 12 chapters, and 158 articles.

Amendments and additions to the Constitution were made by referendum on August 24, 2002; March 18, 2009; and September 26, 2016.

On February 6, 1996, by the decree of President Heydar Aliyev, November 12 was declared Constitution Day.