International and European Law
International law
Understand sources (treaties, custom, general principles, judicial decisions, writings), the law of treaties (conclusion, reservation, interpretation, invalidity, termination), statehood, recognition, jurisdiction, state responsibility, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Know the role of the UN Charter and the prohibition on the use of force.
European and regional frameworks
Azerbaijan is a member of the Council of Europe and a party to the European Convention on Human Rights. Know the structure of the Convention system, the admissibility criteria (exhaustion of domestic remedies, six-month rule, victim status), and the binding force of judgments. Understand the relationship between international treaties and domestic law: ratified treaties prevail over conflicting statutes.
Traps
Frequent traps: confusing signature with ratification (only ratification binds); assuming reservations can defeat the object of a treaty; and forgetting the exhaustion-of-remedies requirement before an international body. Another trap is mixing state responsibility with individual criminal responsibility.
Rule of thumb
When a question involves a treaty, check: was it signed, ratified, and in force, and does it conflict with domestic law? If so, the ratified treaty prevails.