During the past year, materials collected regarding facts containing elements of crime in the activities of local self-government bodies in Azerbaijan were submitted to investigative authorities in 62 cases for legal assessment.
According to the annual report of the body exercising administrative control over the activities of municipalities, Operative Information Center-OMM reports that these statistics are reflected in the official document.
The figures in the report submitted for discussion to the Regional Affairs Committee of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) indicate the seriousness of the situation: criminal cases have already been initiated based on 14 of the mentioned materials, submissions have been sent to eliminate law violations in 17 facts, and investigations are still ongoing in 31 cases.
Looking at specific facts, it was discovered that an official of the Fatmayi municipality in the Absheron district caused serious damage to both the municipality and the legal interests of society by abusing their powers. Regarding this fact, a criminal case has been initiated under the relevant article at the General Directorate for Combating Corruption under the Prosecutor General.
Similar illegalities were recorded in the Gukhuroba municipality of the Gusar district. Specifically, cases of illegal documentation and the use of forged documents were revealed during the allocation of land in municipal ownership. The Prosecutor General's Office has opened a criminal case under articles regarding the forgery, illegal preparation, and use of official documents, seals, and stamps.
It was also determined that the chairman of the Sarijali municipality in the Saatli district committed fraud by abusing their official position, and a criminal prosecution has been initiated regarding this fact. In the former Ashaghi Jureli-Mughan municipality of the Bilasuvar district, the situation was even more severe. Officials ignored the principle of collegiality, making unilateral decisions on land allocation, looting the local budget, and wasting property. Consequently, a criminal case was opened for embezzlement, waste, official forgery, and abuse of powers.
Furthermore, an official of the Murshudoba municipality in the Khachmaz district is accused of embezzling budget funds and preparing illegal documents for land allocation. A criminal case has been initiated for fraud and the forgery/sale of official documents. In the Boyuk Gishlag municipality of the Tovuz district, officials violated collegiality principles by preparing forged decisions on behalf of the body. For these actions, a criminal case was opened for abuse of official powers, passive bribery, and official forgery.
The list is not limited to these; materials collected regarding officials of Sarov, Garadaghli, Yukhari Gapanli, and Beyimsarov in Terter; Gobu in Absheron; Urva and Samur in Gusar; the former Novosaratovka in Gadabay, and other municipalities have also been sent to investigative authorities for legal assessment.
In Azerbaijan, municipalities are elective local self-government bodies that operate independently of the state administration but remain subject to administrative oversight by the Ministry of Justice. These bodies are responsible for managing local property, social protection, and local infrastructure. The recent crackdown highlights the government's commitment to increasing transparency and accountability within local governance as part of broader institutional reforms.
The analysis in the report shows that the main problems in the municipal system are concentrated in the areas of land management, expenditure of financial funds, transparency, accountability, and general administration. The most common characteristic deficiencies found in the activities of local self-government bodies are as follows:
- Preparation of forged documents granting rights to third parties on behalf of the municipality;
- Sale of municipal lands based on forged documents;
- Unilateral resolution of property issues by officials instead of collegial decision-making;
- Failure to take measures established by legislation for the use and protection of lands;
- Cases of embezzlement or waste of municipal property;
- Failure to consider real market value during the sale or auction of lands for individual construction, leading to artificially low prices;
- Problems in the collection of local taxes and lease fees due to the negligence of officials, resulting in a sharp deterioration of the municipality's financial situation.
