Azerbaijan makes history as first nation to ratify UN Convention against cybercrime

BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 10. The Azerbaijani
Parliament approved the law submitted by President Ilham Aliyev on
the ratification of the United Nations (UN) “Convention against
Cybercrime” on February 10, 2026,Trend reports.

With this step, Azerbaijan becomes the first country to complete
the ratification process, leading the way for the Convention’s
global implementation.

The country played an active role in shaping the final draft of
the UN Convention, contributing substantively through a delegation
that included representatives from the State Security Service, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Special Communication and
Information Security State Service, and other government bodies.
Their constructive and principled positions helped form the text of
the Convention.

The Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly on
December 24, 2024, and is considered a landmark 21st-century
framework. It establishes the first globally binding legal
framework for combating cybercrime, setting unified standards for
international cooperation.

In October 2025, the Convention was formally signed in Hanoi,
Vietnam, by 74 countries, including the United Kingdom, France,
China, Australia, Belgium, Türkiye, Poland, Russia, Spain, the
United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Sweden. In accordance with a decree
by President Ilham Aliyev, the head of the State Security Service
signed the Convention on behalf of Azerbaijan.

Ratification by national parliaments is required for countries
to join this international legal framework, and Azerbaijan is the
first country to complete this process.

The ratification will strengthen the capabilities of security
and law enforcement agencies, regulate international legal
procedures for electronic evidence, and enhance the effectiveness
of cross-border investigations. Urgent international cooperation
mechanisms will enable rapid responses to cybercrime.

According to the UN official website, Azerbaijan is also the
only country to have signed the Convention with specific
declarations and reservations, reflecting a highly professional
legal approach to international obligations.

Overall, the Convention aims to expand global coordination,
establish standards, and strengthen legal cooperation in the fight
against cybercrime.

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