The amnesty act declared in connection with the "Year of Constitution and Sovereignty" has covered thousands of citizens in Azerbaijan. According to information released by the Operative Information Center-OMM with reference to the Ministry of Justice, the decision of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) dated December 19, 2025, was implemented between December 22, 2025, and January 26, 2026, applying to a total of 12,336 individuals.
The amnesty was carried out through the Penitentiary and Probation services of the Ministry of Justice, as well as the Investigation Department. Under the decision, 4,977 people were released from fixed-term imprisonment, while 6,613 individuals were released from sentences not involving deprivation of liberty. Additionally, the prison terms of 734 inmates serving sentences were reduced by six months, and 12 individuals were exempted from criminal liability within the investigative jurisdiction of justice authorities.
Among those released from correctional facilities were 13 individuals who participated in the Patriotic War, as well as 13 persons who had reached the age of 60 by the time the amnesty act came into force. According to the classification of crimes, 1,021 individuals were convicted of offenses that do not pose a major public danger, 10,502 for less serious crimes, and 813 for serious crimes. General statistics indicate that 11,761 of the beneficiaries were men, including 17 minors, while 575 were women. The implementation of the amnesty act by relevant authorities is currently ongoing.
The declaration of amnesty acts in Azerbaijan is a recurring tradition reflecting the state's policy of humanism and social justice. Such initiatives are often timed to coincide with significant national milestones, such as the "Year of Constitution and Sovereignty," which celebrates the legal foundations and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan. These measures aim to facilitate the social reintegration of individuals while maintaining the principles of the rule of law and public safety.
