State Symbols
Article 23: Azerbaijan State Symbols
I. State symbols of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall be: the State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Emblem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
II. The State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall consist of three wide stripes. The upper stripe shall be of blue color, the middle stripe shall be red and the lower one shall be green. There shall be a white crescent and eight-pointed star in the middle of the red stripe on both sides of the Flag. The proportion of the width to the length shall be 1 by 2.
III. The design of the State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Emblem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the music and the text of State Anthem the Republic of Azerbaijan shall be defined by the Constitutional Law.
Extract from the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on “Adoption of Description of the State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan”
Article 1: General Description
1.1. The State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan consists of three horizontal, rectangular stripes of equal width. The upper stripe is of blue color, the middle stripe is red and the lower one is green. The proportion of the width to the length of the stripes is 1 by 2.
1.2. There is a crescent and eight-pointed star in the center of the red stripe. The crescent and the star are white. The tips of the crescent face the star positioned at its right.
Article 2: Color and Scheme Description
2.1. Regardless of its size, the State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan must comply with the color and scheme descriptions attached.
2.2. In the preparation, correction, and printing of color images of the state flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan by industrial method, it must be ensured that its blue color shall comply with Pantone 306C color, red color with Pantone Red 032C color, and green color with Pantone 362C color of Pantone color book.
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The tricolor flag of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was first adopted at a government meeting on 19 November 1918, and was raised over the building of the Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (presently, office of "Azneft" Production Union of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan) where the meeting was held.
The flag, which had a state status until 27 April 1920, the collapse of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, was lowered outside the building of the Azerbaijan’s Parliament on 3 May 1920, as a result of the occupation of Azerbaijan by the Soviet Russian troops.
Inherited from Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the flag was approved as the national flag of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic at the session held on 17 November 1990 on the initiative of chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, National Leader Heydar Aliyev. At the same time, the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhichivan Autonomous Republic appealed to the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR to recognize the three colored flag as an official state symbol of Azerbaijan. On 5 February 1991, the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan Republic considered that application, and made a decision to recognize the three colored flag as a national flag of Azerbaijan.
Later the National Leader recalled: "I think that the decisions taken by the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic had a great impact on the work of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijani leadership was forced to adopt a number of this kind of decisions. In the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic this flag flew on 17 November 1990, while in Azerbaijan Republic it flew on 5 February 1991."
The national flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan is a symbol of sovereignty of the Azerbaijani state.
The blue color of the national flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan has the meaning of Turkic origin of the Azerbaijani people, red color reflects the desire to establish a modern society, and develop democracy, and the green color shows belonging to the Islamic civilization.
Under the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated 17 November 2009, November 9 each year marks the National Flag Day in the country.
Addressing the solemn opening ceremony of the National Flag Square in Baku on 1 September 2010, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev emphasized the importance of the national flag: "Our flag is our source of pride. Our flag is our soul, our heart. Today, the national flag is flying in all parts of Azerbaijan. After the restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, our national flag will also be raised in the lands which are still under occupation. Our flag will fly in Nagorno-Karabakh, Khankendi and Shusha. We must bring that day ever closer by our work every moment, and we do bring. Long live the Azerbaijani flag!" he said.
In April 2016, the glorious Azerbaijani Army, as a result of a successful counter-offensive military operation, raised the flag of Azerbaijan at the Lalatepe height. After that, Azerbaijan's national flag flew in Jojug Marjanli, where the people could safely live after it was retaken from Armenian occupation. Under the orders of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jojug Marjanli was restored in a short time, and the "Return Program" of internally displaced persons to their native lands was launched.
Highly appreciating the Azerbaijani army's services in April victory in 2016, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said: "April battles should be put into military textbooks. From the view point of both professionalism and patriotism, the April battles once again demonstrated that the people of Azerbaijan are heroic people ... April battles are our glorious military victory, the victory showing the strength of our state, our people and our army. As a result of the April fights, the flag of Azerbaijan is flying today in the territories of Fuzuli, Jabrayil and Aghdara districts that are liberated from occupation. These battles show that the people and state of Azerbaijan will never reconcile with the occupation and restore the territorial integrity of the country at any cost ... We will return to the occupied lands. This is our main task. As today we see our flag lying in the lands that were liberated last year, the flag of Azerbaijan will also be raised in all other still occupied territories."
The President of Azerbaijan, Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev hoisted our flag in the city of Shusha on 15 January 2021, and during the meeting with the military personnel said: “At the opening of the splendid State Flag Square in Baku I once said that the day would come when we raise our Azerbaijan’s flag in the then occupied territories, including Shusha. That day has come. We have arrived as victors and raised our flag. Azerbaijan’s flag is flying high across all the liberated lands.”
The State Emblem of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the symbol of independence of the Azerbaijani state.
The modern state emblem is a modified version of a draft coat of arm, which was created during the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
On 30 January 1920, the government of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic announced a competition on the best state emblem of Azerbaijan and made a decision that a sample of the emblem that wins the competition will be adopted on 28 May the same year. However, due to the collapse of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on 28 April 1920, it was impossible to adopt a decision relating to the National Emblem.
On 17 November 1990, the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhichivan Autonomous Republic, after having discussed the issue relating to the national emblem, appealed to the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR on announcement of a new competition for the preparation of the national emblem of Azerbaijan.
The competition was announced on 5 February 1991, under the decision of the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan Republic. On 19 January 1993, under the Constitutional Law, one of the draft coats of arm developed in 1919-1920, with certain changes, was adopted as the State National Emblem of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The Constitutional Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on “Adoption of Description of State Emblem of the Republic of Azerbaijan” was passed on 2 November 2018.
Extract from the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on “Adoption of Description of State Emblem of the Republic of Azerbaijan”
Article 1: General Description
1.1. The State Emblem of the Republic of Azerbaijan represents an image of oriental shield placed on the arch composed of oak branches and ears.
1.2. On the shield, against the background of colors of the State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan, there is an image of an eight-pointed star and in the center of the star there is an image of flame. In the colored description of the State Emblem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the star is white, the flame is red, the oak branches are green, the ears are yellow, and the rims of the shield and the star, as well as rivets (8 pieces) and oak galls (5 pieces) are golden.
2. Article 2: Color, Colorless and Scheme Description
2.1. Regardless of its size, the State Emblem of the Republic of Azerbaijan must comply with the color, colorless and scheme descriptions attached.
2.2. In the preparation, correction, and printing of color images of the State Emblem of the Republic of Azerbaijan by industrial method, it must be ensured that the red color of the flame shall comply with Pantone 032C, green of oak branches shall comply with Pantone 7729C, yellow of the ears shall comply with Pantone 7548C, golden of the rims of the shield and the star, as well as rivets and oak galls shall comply with Pantone111C color of Pantone color book.
Extract from the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on “Adoption of the Music and Lyrics of the State Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan”
“Azerbaijan March”, with music by Uzeyir Hajibayli and lyrics by Ahmad Javad, to be adopted a State Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan
On 30 January 1920, the government of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic adopted a resolution on preparing the state anthem of the Republic. In this regard, the Ministry of Public Enlightenment announced a competition for the best state anthem. However, due to the fall of ADR on 28 April 1920, the state anthem of Azerbaijan was not adopted.
On 27 May 1992, the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis adopted the law "On the state anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan", which approved the "Azerbaijani march", composed by the great composer Uzeyir Hajibayli and written by poet Ahmad Javad, as the state anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The Regulations on the state anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan were approved by the Decree of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 2 March 1993. In 2000-2004, the amendments were made to the Regulations.
On 2 November 2018, the music and lyrics of the State Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan were approved by the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
On 19 February 2019, the Law 1512-VQ on “Regulations Governing the Use of the State Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan” was passed. Under the document, it is obligatory that the state anthem is performed in the following cases:
• At the beginning and end of the sessions of the Milli Mejlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
• When the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan arrives to the sessions of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
• At the opening and closing ceremonies of solemn events and meetings,
• On the occasion of national holidays,
• Every day at the beginning and end of the national television and radio programs,
• On the occasion of significant historical events in the life of the Azerbaijani people, during the opening of monuments and plaques for prominent political, state and military leaders, national heroes, scientists, literature and art figures,
• During the flag raising ceremony at the events held by state and public institutions, entities, bodies and organizations, and during other solemn ceremonies,
• Other cases demanding obligatory performance of the state anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan may also be envisaged by the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
• After the playing of the state anthem of the visiting country during ceremonies to welcome/see off heads of state and government of foreign countries who visit the Republic of Azerbaijan for official meetings.
The law stipulates other cases and rules for performing the State Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The music (partiture) of the State Anthem is to be performed in its entirety, by orchestra, choir or orchestra-choir, other vocal means and instruments, and audio devices.
During the performance of the State Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan must stand to attention and listen to the anthem to the end or sing along.
During the performance of the State Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, foreigners or stateless persons must stand to attention and listen to the anthem to the end.
Hailing the peculiarities of the anthem, national leader Heydar Aliyev said: "We must love our state anthem, and our flag as much as we love ourselves. Because it is a symbol of loyalty, love and affection to our homeland, our nation, and our state."
Download the Republic of Azerbaijan state anthem ( 2 MB, .mp3 )