Azerbaijani Parliament adopts new fines related to NGOs in final reading

The Azerbaijani Parliament has adopted new fines in the final reading regarding violations of legislative requirements related to the provision of services and performance of work by non-governmental organizations.

Report informs that the relevant draft amendment to the Code of Administrative Offenses was discussed at today's plenary sitting of the parliament's extraordinary session.

It was noted that for failure to submit contracts for the provision of services or performance of work by a non-governmental organization funded by foreign financial sources to the body (entity) determined by the relevant executive authority within the timeframes established by legislation for registration, officials will be fined from 1,500 manats ($882.35) to 2,500 manats ($1,470), and legal entities from 5,000 manats ($2,941) to 7,000 manats ($4,117).

The document emphasizes that for providing services or performing work without a contract funded by foreign financial sources, or under an unregistered contract, or for accepting financial resources and (or) other material resources in connection with this, officials will be fined from 2,500 manats to 5,000 manats, and legal entities will be fined from 8,000 manats ($4,705) to 15,000 manats ($8,823).

It is stated that for conducting banking operations and any other operations under a contract for the provision of services or performance of work funded by foreign financial sources that has not been registered in accordance with the procedure established by the "Bill on Non-Governmental Organizations (Public Associations and Foundations)" by non-governmental organizations, or banks and other payment service providers, officials will be fined from 2,500 manats to 5,000 manats, and legal entities will be fined from 5,000 manats to 8,000 manats.

After discussions, the draft bill was put to a vote and adopted in the third reading.