The amnesty act declared by the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) on December 19, 2025, in honor of the "Year of Constitution and Sovereignty," has been implemented on a large scale across Azerbaijan. The amnesty measures were carried out between December 22, 2025, and February 8, 2026, through the joint activities of relevant state authorities.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the Ministry of Justice stated that during this period, in coordination with the prosecution and judicial authorities, amnesty was applied to a total of 15,119 individuals across the Penitentiary and Probation services, as well as the Investigation Department.
Based on the Ministry's statement, 5,148 people were released from fixed-term imprisonment, while 8,914 individuals were freed from sentences not involving deprivation of liberty. At the same time, the prison terms of 1,045 convicts were reduced by six months. Furthermore, 12 individuals were exempted from criminal liability within the investigative jurisdiction of the justice authorities.
Among those released from correctional facilities were 15 individuals who participated in the Patriotic War, as well as 15 others who had reached the age of 60 by the date the amnesty decision came into force.
According to statistics, of those granted amnesty, 1,216 were convicted of crimes that do not pose a major public danger, 13,054 for less serious crimes, and 849 for serious crimes. In total, the amnesty act covered 14,345 men (including 18 minors) and 774 women. The Ministry of Justice announced that the implementation of the amnesty act is currently ongoing.
Amnesty acts in Azerbaijan are a traditional manifestation of the state's humanistic policy, often initiated by the President of Azerbaijan or the First Vice President. These measures aim to facilitate the social reintegration of individuals who have committed less serious offenses, particularly focusing on vulnerable groups such as veterans, the elderly, and women, while maintaining the principles of justice and public safety within the Republic.
