An international conference entitled "Protection of human rights and freedoms by Constitutional Court by means of individual complaints" marking the 20th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan has today started in Baku.

The conference was co-organized by the Azerbaijani Constitutional Court, Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Chairman of the Constitutional Court Farhad Abdullayev opened the conference.

A film about the 20th Anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan made by AZERTAC was demonstrated.

Head of the Department for Law Enforcement Bodies at the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Fuad Alasgarov red a congratulatory letter of the President to the conference participants.

Farhad Abdullayev then addressed the event. He noted that the Constitution was one of the most important achievements during the independence history of Azerbaijani people.

The Chairman of the Constitutional Court hailed national leader Heydar Aliyev"s contribution to the adoption of the Constitution. He described the Constitution as a significant document, which reflects progressive values.

Farhad Abdullayev said the adoption of the constitution gave an opportunity to carry out judicial and legal reforms in the country.

First Deputy Speaker of the Milli Majlis Ziyafat Asgarov, President of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe Gianni Buquicchi, Europe and Project Manager of the German Society for International Cooperation Thomas Herman, and Rector of the Baku State University, Academician, Abel Maharramov made speech at the event.

Following the opening speeches judge of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Turkey Celal Mumtak Akinci, Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation Sergei Mavrin, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Montenegro Desanka Lopicic, and Judge of the Republic of Belarus Tadeush Voronov addressed the conference.