Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek visits Azerbaijan to boost judicial ties
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek made his first official foreign trip after taking office, traveling to Baku where he paid respects at Haydar Aliyev’s mausoleum and at the Turkish and Azerbaijani martyr memorials. He then met Azerbaijan’s Justice Minister Farid Ahmadov, the Prosecutor General and the head of the State Security Service to discuss deepening cooperation in the justice sector, including prison administration, digital solutions and staff training.
Gürlek stressed Turkey’s firm stance on the extradition of fugitives, saying “wherever they run, we will pursue them,” and noted that Azerbaijan has offered full assistance. He recalled that in the first half of 2026 Turkey secured the return of 197 individuals from 31 countries. Both sides described their relationship as a “brotherly, strategic partnership” and pledged to expand joint legal projects under the Turkish‑Azerbaijani framework.
The visit underscores a broader effort to strengthen cross‑border law‑enforcement collaboration between the two NATO‑partner nations.