Vugar Aghayev

Head of Probation Service, Probation Service, Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan

Mr. Vugar Aghayev holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Law from Baku State University (1997–2004). He has enhanced his professional expertise through participation in international programs, including the Human Rights Programme in Lund, Sweden, and the Open World Programme in the United States.
Throughout his career, Mr. Aghayev has played an active role in justice reform initiatives, serving as a focal point at the Ministry of Justice in various projects supported by the European Union and United Nations organizations. He began his career as a probation officer (2002–2006) and later held several senior roles within the Ministry of Justice Apparatus (2008–2020). From 2021 to 2024, he served as Deputy Head of the Inspectorate for Supervision over the Execution of Punishments, overseeing both penitentiary and probation services.
Since June 2024, Mr. Aghayev has been serving as the Director of the Probation Service at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan, where he leads strategic initiatives aimed at modernizing the probation system and promoting community-based sanctions and measures.

Dr. Sayyad Macidov

Head of Social Adaptation and Rehabilitation Department, Probation Service, Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan

Dr. Sayyad Macidov holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in International Law from the Higher Diplomatic College (1995–2001). He currently serves as an Associate Professor at the Justice Academy of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan and at Baku Eurasian University. Dr. Macidov is the author of several academic textbooks in the fields of human rights, international law, and international criminal law.
From 2010 to 2018, he held key positions within the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan, working in the Human Rights Department and serving as the Ministry's Press Officer. In addition to his academic and professional engagements, Dr. Macidov is a member of the International Federation of Journalists.
Since June 2024, Dr. Macidov has been heading the Social Adaptation and Rehabilitation Department of the Probation Service under the Ministry of Justice. In this capacity, he oversees the development and implementation of social adaptation and rehabilitation strategies for individuals under probation supervision, contributing to the reintegration of former offenders into society through structured and evidence-based programs.