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Azerbaijan to tighten fines for violations involving historical and cultural monuments

05 December 2025 11:38 (UTC +04:00)

Fines for those who violate the requirements for the protection and use of historical and cultural monuments are being tightened, APA reports.

This is reflected in the proposed amendment to the Code of Administrative Offenses, which was discussed at a joint meeting of the Parliamentary Committees on Law Policy and State Building and Culture.

According to the draft, for violating the requirements for the protection and use of cultural and natural heritage, including historical and cultural monuments in accordance with the Law "On the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments", individuals will be fined seven hundred manats, officials will be fined one thousand manats, and legal entities will be fined three thousand manats.

For the damage to cultural assets as a result of the above-mentioned acts, if this causes minor damage, individuals will be fined five thousand manats, officials will be fined ten thousand manats, and legal entities will be fined thirty thousand manats.

If, during construction or other economic activities, a historical or cultural monument is discovered and the work is not immediately halted and the relevant authority designated by the executive power is not notified, or if monuments discovered or found in hoards are not handed over to the state, the following fines will be imposed:

- individuals will be fined 200 manats,

- officials will be fined 400 manats,

- legal entities will be fined 3,000 manats.

If, during construction or other economic activities, a historical or cultural monument is discovered and the work is not immediately halted and the relevant authority designated by the executive power is not notified, or if a monument found in hoards is not handed over to the state, and these violations are committed again within one year from the date an administrative penalty decision enters into force for the same offense, the following fines will be applied:

- individuals will be fined 1,000 manats,

- officials will be fined 1,500 manats,

- legal entities will be fined 6,000 manats.

These measures apply when the acts mentioned above do not constitute criminal liability under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"Small amount" means an amount not exceeding three thousand manats

According to the current Code, violation of the requirements for the protection and use of cultural and natural heritage, including the law "On the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments", shall be subject to a warning or a fine of fifty to one hundred manats for individuals, two hundred and fifty to three hundred manats for officials, and one thousand five hundred to two thousand manats for legal entities.