On February 18, 2026, the city of Khankendi in Azerbaijan found itself at the intersection of two significant developments: a renewed focus on education, culture, and medicine at Garabagh University, and the country’s bold move to ratify a landmark international convention against organ trafficking. While these events may seem unrelated at first glance, together they signal a nation grappling with both its aspirations for progress and the ethical challenges of modern healthcare.
AnewZ Talks, a popular discussion series, chose Garabagh University’s Faculty of Arts as the venue for its latest episode. Hosted by Katie Wilson, the conversation brought together three distinct voices: Nargiz Gozalova, a Bachelor’s student in Medicine; Türkar Gasimzade, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and a composer; and Dr. Samir Babayev, Director General at Garabagh University Clinic and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Their exchange, as reported by AnewZ, delved into the complexities of education, cultural identity, and the evolving landscape of medicine in a region undergoing profound transformation.
Gozalova, representing the next generation of healthcare professionals, reflected on the unique challenges and opportunities facing students in Khankendi. "Studying and living here isn’t just about textbooks and exams. It’s about being part of something bigger—a region that’s changing, and we’re changing with it," she shared during the episode. Her words echoed the broader sentiment of a community eager to reconcile its historical legacy with the demands of a modern, ethical healthcare system.
Gasimzade, meanwhile, emphasized the role of arts education in fostering a sense of belonging. "Artistic creation is not just a personal journey; it’s a way to build community and identity," he said. For a region healing from conflict and seeking new narratives, this approach to cultural renewal is more than symbolic—it’s foundational.
Dr. Babayev, with his dual roles in education and clinical leadership, offered a candid assessment of what it means to lead in such a dynamic environment. "Redefining success means leading beyond comfort zones and shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals," he noted. His comments underscored the urgent need for ethical leadership, especially as Azerbaijan faces new legal and moral questions about organ transplantation and trafficking.
Just as these conversations unfolded in Khankendi, the national spotlight shifted to Baku, where the Milli Majlis (parliament) prepared to ratify the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs (CETS 216). According to Jamnews, President Ilham Aliyev had already signed the document on October 30, 2023, declaring Azerbaijan’s intention to join the convention. The parliamentary ratification process, now underway, marks a critical turning point in the country’s approach to organ donation and transplantation.
The convention itself, signed on March 25, 2015, and entering into force on March 1, 2018, is the world’s only international agreement devoted entirely to combating organ trafficking. As of January 2025, only 15 countries had ratified it—a testament to both its ambition and the global challenges of enforcement. The convention requires participating states to criminalize the removal of human organs without proper consent or in exchange for financial gain, and to establish criminal liability for all participants in organ trafficking networks, except for donors and recipients.
For Azerbaijan, the timing of this move is significant. The country’s 2012 law "On the Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues" already regulates the procedures for organ removal, storage, and transplantation. In 2020, a presidential decree established a Coordination Centre for Organ Donation and Transplantation under the Ministry of Health, tasked with creating a unified state database of donors and recipients and maintaining the waiting list. The system is voluntary: would-be donors must obtain a donor card and formally confirm their consent.
Yet, the numbers reveal persistent challenges. In February 2025, Azerbaijan performed its first post-mortem organ transplant—a milestone not just for the country but for the entire Caucasus region, as noted by the Ministry of Health. Still, between 2023 and 2025, only about 100 people applied to become post-mortem donors. In 2024 alone, more than 600 patients sought organ transplants, with a waiting list six times larger than the number of available donors. The gap between need and supply remains stark.
Current law allows living donors to provide only one kidney, part of a lung, part of the liver, and certain other organ parts. Post-mortem donations can include the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal organs, and even limbs—but only after an official diagnosis of brain death, and sometimes with the family’s consent. Despite these regulations, Article 137 of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, which addresses the illegal buying, selling, or forced removal of organs, prescribes relatively mild penalties: a fine or imprisonment for three to five years.
This leniency has not gone unnoticed. In 2023, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) criticized Azerbaijan’s sanctions as insufficiently deterrent, noting that "victims were not being recognised as victims of human trafficking, and the level of training among judges and prosecutors on the issue remained insufficient." GRETA recommended stronger penalties, better victim recognition, and improved training for law enforcement and judicial personnel.
The lack of robust international cooperation has also hampered efforts to combat organ trafficking. In 2017, an international criminal case involving human trafficking for organ removal led to charges against an Iranian doctor. However, after Iran refused extradition, the investigation stalled. Other suspects remain at large in Pakistan and Georgia, illustrating how jurisdictional gaps can allow traffickers to evade justice. The convention, by providing mechanisms for mutual legal assistance, extradition, and joint investigations, aims to close these loopholes.
Ratifying the convention would require Azerbaijan to make several key changes: toughening criminal legislation, banning material compensation for donors and recipients, formally recognizing victims, and expanding international cooperation. The agreement also mandates urgent medical and psychological assistance for victims and the restoration of their rights. Perhaps most importantly, it holds the promise of increased transparency and ethical standards in the organ transplant system—potentially boosting public trust and, in turn, the number of donors.
Experts, including those at the International Committee of the Red Cross, have pointed out that the convention’s jurisdiction is limited to participating states and their citizens. This creates gaps where traffickers might still operate with impunity. However, by joining the convention, Azerbaijan positions itself to participate in broader initiatives, such as cross-border organ exchange programs, and to set a model for legal reform in the region.
Despite progress, significant work remains. Changes to the Criminal Code, systematic public awareness campaigns, and the continued development of medical infrastructure are all needed to bring Azerbaijan fully in line with the convention’s requirements. As the conversations at Garabagh University suggest, the country’s future will depend as much on the ethical formation of its next generation as on the laws it enacts.
In a country where the lines between tradition and modernity are constantly being redrawn, Azerbaijan’s dual focus on educational renewal and legal reform offers a glimpse of hope—and a challenge. Whether these efforts will be enough to close the gap between aspiration and reality remains to be seen, but the momentum is unmistakable.