A total of 43 municipality chairpersons in Azerbaijan have been held administratively liable following investigations into various legal violations, including illegal land allocation and tax irregularities. According to the annual report of the body exercising administrative control over municipal activities, numerous discrepancies were identified in both the capital and regional districts.
As reported by the Operative Information Center-OMM, the investigations in Baku revealed serious breaches regarding the unlawful allocation of land plots, inaccuracies in the registration of taxable objects, and errors in the calculation of local taxes. Furthermore, officials noted failures in the maintenance of public spaces and the protection of green areas within the capital's jurisdiction.
The report also highlighted significant shortcomings within regional municipalities. These primarily involve non-compliance with legislation during land distribution, the seizure of municipal lands, and the use of land for purposes other than those designated. Authorities criticized the lack of measures taken to recover lands with expired leases or to ensure compensation for damages caused by illegal usage.
During the year, protocols were drawn up against officials under Article 549 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (obstructing the activities of the administrative control body) and submitted to the courts. Based on these protocols, 43 municipality chairpersons were penalized, while three additional protocols currently remain under judicial review.
In Azerbaijan, municipalities are local self-governing bodies responsible for managing local issues, including social protection, economic development, and environmental protection within their territories. The Ministry of Justice typically oversees administrative control to ensure that municipal acts and decisions comply with national legislation and the Constitution of Azerbaijan. This recent crackdown reflects the government's ongoing efforts to increase transparency and accountability within local governance structures.
