Significant amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes of Azerbaijan have been proposed to strengthen the country's fight against cybercrime. The draft law was discussed during a meeting of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) Committee on Legal Policy and State Building on Friday.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the primary objective of the bill is to provide an adequate response to emerging challenges in the digital sphere. The reforms aim to eliminate existing legal loopholes and fully integrate the requirements of international obligations, particularly the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, into the national legislation of Azerbaijan.
The proposed changes include replacing outdated terminology with modern legal definitions to reflect rapid technological advancements. Specifically, the term "computer system" will be replaced by "ICT system," and "computer data" will be updated to "electronic data." This shift ensures that smartphones, servers, cloud technologies, and other modern digital tools fall under the scope of legal regulation. Additionally, new terms such as "traffic data," "subscriber information," "content data," and "service provider" will be formally introduced into the legal framework.
The amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code also establish a clear legal framework for the collection, protection, and use of electronic evidence. This includes defining the legal grounds for inspecting, searching, and seizing ICT systems. Furthermore, the bill introduces new articles regarding the electronic conduct of pre-trial and judicial proceedings. Document exchange between the courts and the prosecutor's office will be facilitated through the "Electronic Court" and "Electronic Prosecution" systems using enhanced electronic signatures.
In developing the draft law, authorities in Azerbaijan analyzed the advanced legal practices of several countries, including Germany, the United States, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Uzbekistan. These reforms represent a broader effort by the Republic of Azerbaijan to modernize its judicial system and enhance national security in the face of evolving global digital threats.
