The implementation of the Decision dated December 19, 2025, "On the declaration of amnesty on the occasion of the Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty," adopted by the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) based on the initiative of the President, has been successfully completed.
The Ministry of Justice informed the Operative Information Center-OMM that the execution of the amnesty act was carried out over a period of four months, with the active participation of non-governmental organizations, media representatives, and other members of civil society to ensure transparency.
This decision, which stands as a significant manifestation of the state's humanism policy, is the most extensive amnesty act adopted in Azerbaijan to date in terms of the number of individuals covered. In total, this 13th amnesty act was applied to 22,935 persons. Among those affected, 5,348 individuals were released from fixed-term imprisonment, while the remaining terms of 3,555 people sentenced to imprisonment were reduced by six months.
The amnesty also extended to 9,714 individuals sentenced to penalties not related to deprivation of liberty. This included 7,970 persons sentenced to restriction of freedom, 734 to correctional labor, 82 to community service, 741 to fines, 175 to restrictions on military service, and 12 individuals held in disciplinary military units. Additionally, the act was applied to 1,059 convicts who were on probation, had their sentences suspended, or were released on parole. Furthermore, 3,259 individuals were exempted from criminal liability, including 1,676 cases pending in courts and 1,583 cases under preliminary investigation.
Since 1996, the Republic of Azerbaijan has adopted 13 amnesty acts, demonstrating the state's consistent preference for humanism, social justice, and restorative approaches within its penal policy. These measures are designed to facilitate the social reintegration of individuals and uphold the effective protection of human rights within the national legal framework.
