Who runs local government in Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijan has two parallel local systems. The real executive power lies with local executive authorities in 66 districts (rayons) and 11 cities, whose heads are appointed by and answer to the President. Alongside them are elected municipalities, which the Constitution recognises but which have few powers and small budgets. The exclave of Nakhchivan is an autonomous republic with its own parliament.
Republic of Azerbaijan · Unitary republic (presidential) · Caucasus
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic | Supreme Assembly (Ali Majlis) directly elected; heads of local executive bodies appointed by the President of Azerbaijan on the Ali Majlis chair's recommendation | Autonomous powers within Azerbaijani law. |
| Districts (66) and cities (11, incl. Baku) – local executive authorities | Head of executive power appointed by and accountable to the President | Run most local services and state administration; appoint representatives in villages and settlements. |
| Municipalities (city, intra-city and rural) | Municipal council directly elected for five years; council elects its chair | Local social programmes, local roads and cleaning, local taxes on land and property; no municipality exists for Baku as a whole. |
Three questions about local power in Azerbaijan
Are local leaders elected?
Municipal councils are directly elected every five years; their chairs are chosen by the councils. Heads of district and city executive authorities and village representatives are appointed.
Which laws set up local government?
The Constitution (Chapter IX, Articles 142–146 on municipalities), the Law on the Status of Municipalities and presidential regulations on local executive authorities. Elders' mediation is informal.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Executive heads answer to the President. Municipalities are supervised by the Ministry of Justice (administrative control over municipalities) and courts; voters elect councils.
Traditional and customary authority
There is no customary authority in law. Respected elders (ağsaqqal, literally 'white-beard') often mediate in villages and neighbourhoods informally. Religious affairs are regulated by the state, and mosques work under the Caucasus Muslims Board; religious leaders have no formal local power.
Community and neighbourhood power
Village and settlement life is managed mainly through representatives of the district executive authority, who are appointed. Municipalities can involve residents, but civil society activity is limited by law and practice. Neighbourhood elders' councils and mosque communities play informal roles.
Points to know
- The Constitution says executive authorities and municipalities are not subordinate to each other, but their powers overlap and executive authorities hold most resources.
- Baku has 162 intra-city elected municipalities in its districts but no city-wide municipality; the city is run by an appointed executive.
- More than 6,000 villages and settlements are not self-governing units.
- Municipal councils are elected for five years under Article 142 of the Constitution; the most recent elections were held in January 2025.
Local terms
- Yerli icra hakimiyyəti
- Local executive authority, headed by a presidential appointee.
- Bələdiyyə
- Municipality, with an elected council.
- Ağsaqqal
- Respected elder who mediates informally.
Sources
- Constitution of Azerbaijan (1995, rev. 2016), Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
- Azerbaijan: country profile (territorial organisation, responsibilities, finance), OECD–UCLG World Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and Investment (SNG-WOFI), checked 14 October 2026
See also: Azerbaijan's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.