Baku: Azerbaijan has become the first nation to ratify the United Nations Convention 'Against Cybercrime', following the adoption of the draft Law by the Milli Majlis on February 10. This significant development was initiated by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and reported by APA.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Azerbaijan has played a pivotal role in the formation and endorsement of the Convention. The country's delegation, comprising members from the State Security Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security, and other governmental bodies, was instrumental in contributing to the negotiations and finalizing the text of the document.

The Convention was initially adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 24, 2024. It is the first international agreement designed to create a cohesive and legally binding global framework to combat cybercrime. During the official signing ceremony in October 2025 in Hanoi, 74 countries, including major nations like the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia, endorsed the Convention. Azerbaijan signed the Convention, led by the Head of the State Security Service, following a Presidential Decree.

For the Convention to come into effect, it requires ratification by national parliaments and the completion of internal legal procedures by member states. Currently, Azerbaijan stands as the sole country to have concluded this process, marking a significant milestone in international cybercrime legislation.

The ratification is expected to bolster the effectiveness of Azerbaijan's security and law enforcement agencies by establishing international legal procedures for electronic evidence and facilitating transnational investigations. Moreover, it introduces emergency international cooperation mechanisms for prompt responses to cybercrime incidents.

According to the official UN website, Azerbaijan signed the Convention with certain reservations, highlighting a deliberate and professional legal approach to the international legal process. The Convention's overarching goal is to enhance global coordination, establish standards, and foster legal cooperation in the battle against cybercrime.