Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis (National Assembly) has approved at first reading measures to strengthen mechanisms for combating the financing of terrorism and clarify the responsibility of legal entities in this area.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code were discussed at today’s first meeting of the parliament’s autumn session.
The bill states that criminal-law measures will be applied to a legal entity when officials commit the crime of financing terrorism in connection with their official duties as a result of the entity’s failure to organize control over financial operations in accordance with procedures established by law. This will apply regardless of whether the crime was committed for the benefit of the legal entity or to protect its interests.
According to the bill, a key distinction between terrorist financing and other economic crimes is that its primary purpose is not to obtain financial or other economic gain. Rather, it involves directing funds toward financing a terrorist act, a terrorist organization or the activities of a terrorist.
After discussion, the bill was put to a vote and adopted at first reading. The proposed amendments are part of Azerbaijan’s broader legal framework for preventing the misuse of financial systems to support terrorism and related activities.
