sentences:  Azerbaijan regained its independence in 1991, and in 2000 repealed the Soviet-era anti-sodomy law.A special edition of "Azerbaijan", the official newspaper of the National Assembly, published on 28 May 2000, reported that the National Assembly had approved a new criminal code, and that President Heydar Aliyev had signed a decree making it law beginning on 1 September 2000.Repeal of Article 121 was a requirement for Azerbaijan to join the Council of Europe, which Azerbaijan did on 25 January 2001.