Full story
Permanent Representative Office Disbanded
On November 5, Prime Minister of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Jabbar Musayev issued an order abolishing the autonomous republic’s Permanent Representative Office in Baku. The closure marks the end of a diplomatic channel that had operated for over three decades. A liquidation commission is scheduled to be established within five working days to handle the dissolution process, though it remains unclear which body will assume the office's previous functions.
The representative office was originally established in February 1992 under Heydar Aliyev, who headed Nakhchivan’s Supreme Assembly at the time. Its primary function was to maintain regular communication between the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan and state authorities in Baku. The head of the office, Bakhtiyar Asgarov, was dismissed in September, preceding the formal abolition. Authorities have not provided an explanation for the closure.
Shift in Administrative Control
The dissolution of the liaison office follows a systematic restructuring of Nakhchivan’s governance that has unfolded over the past four years. Control over the autonomous republic’s administration shifted toward Baku following the resignation of Vasif Talibov in December 2022. President Ilham Aliyev established the post of presidential plenipotentiary representative to oversee these changes.
Since November 2025, former Nakhchivan Prime Minister Jeyhun Jalilov has held the position of presidential plenipotentiary representative. The role was formalized through legislative action earlier in the year. On February 2, Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis adopted a constitutional law implementing changes to Nakhchivan’s governance system. President Aliyev signed a decree on March 10 to enact these provisions.
The new legal framework abolished the provision establishing the autonomous republic’s highest-ranking official as an independent executive authority. Instead, the presidential representative office was enshrined in Nakhchivan’s Constitution as an executive authority. Under the revised rules, the Cabinet of Ministers is no longer subordinate to the Supreme Assembly but must report to it. Government operating procedures now require agreement with the president, and central executive bodies require his consent for establishment or abolition.
Changes to Legislative Powers
The constitutional amendments significantly altered the powers of Nakhchivan’s local legislature. The president now sets election dates for the Supreme Assembly and retains the authority to dissolve the parliament if it fails to perform its functions. Additionally, the president appoints heads of local executive authorities on the recommendation of the Supreme Assembly chairman.
Further changes removed the requirement for the Supreme Assembly chairman to be a permanent resident of Nakhchivan. Future constitutional amendments will no longer require special procedures but will be made through ordinary legislation. The position of chairman of the Supreme Assembly remains vacant with no new leader elected since Talibov’s resignation; First Deputy Chairman Bakhtiyar Mammadov has chaired recent sessions.
Security and Constitutional Status
Beyond legislative changes, local branches of the State Security Service and State Customs Committee in Nakhchivan already report directly to central authorities in Baku. This integration of security apparatuses complements the political restructuring that has stripped the autonomous republic of significant administrative independence.
Formally, Nakhchivan retains its own Constitution, an elected Supreme Assembly, a Cabinet of Ministers, and a Supreme Court, with the Assembly passing laws and approving the autonomous republic’s separate budget. Despite these formal structures remaining in place, President Ilham Aliyev has stated that Nakhchivan’s autonomous status will be preserved.
