Parliament to consider amendments to several laws
By Kamila Aliyeva
The next plenary session of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis (the Parliament) will be held on April 25, while the parliamentarians will consider a number of important bills and amendments to the laws.
The session will discuss amendments mainly submitted in regard of certain articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
For instance, it is proposed to raise the maximum penalty for insult, while for the libel the maximum fine may be increased three times.
Thereby, articles 147 (libel) and 148 (insult) of the Criminal Code will be amended. The fines for violation of both clauses will range from 1,000 manats ($596) to 1,500 manats ($894).
A change to the Article 156 [violation of privacy] of the Criminal Code also stipulates increasing the amount of penalty from "100 - 500 manats ($60-298)" to " 1,000 to 2,000 manats ($596-1,193)."
It is also proposed to increase the fines for hindering the election process [referendum] by 20 times.
Thus, impending citizen in implementation of voting rights will be punished by fine of 1,500 -to 2,000 manats ($894.7-1,193), while the penalty for coercion of a citizen to sign a candidate's support or to prevent the collection of signatures in support of a candidate will amount to 2,000 - 4,000 manats ($1,193-2,386).
Forcing a citizen to vote against his will or prevent him from voting will be punished by fine of 2500 - 5000 manats ($1,491-2,982), according to the draft law.
Fines for giving bribes may be tightened in Azerbaijan as well.
According to the changes proposed to the anti-corruption law, giving a bribe will be punishable by a fine in the amount of 5,000 - 8,000 manats ($2,982-4,772) (in the current legislation 1,000 -2,000 manats ($596.5-1,193) ), or by imprisonment for a term of 2-5 years.
Besides, the session will consider amendments to the Law "On Currency Regulation".
Azerbaijan may allow individuals and legal entities to open currency exchange offices again as the corresponding amendments to the law have been submitted to the parliament.
Another amendment to the law "On State Duty" provides for the introduction of a fee of 500 manats ($298) for obtaining a license to open currency exchange office. This license will be issued for an indefinite period by the Financial Markets Supervision Body.
Since January 2016, currency exchange offices in Azerbaijan can operate only in banks and post offices. If amendments are adopted, currency exchange points will be opened not only by residents of Azerbaijan, but also by foreign companies in their branches in the country.
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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva
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