The Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of Azerbaijan has approved, in the first reading, a legislative proposal to extend the timeframes for processing information regarding minor criminal offenses that do not pose a significant public threat.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the draft amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code were presented for discussion during the inaugural session of the parliament's extraordinary session.
Under the proposed changes, authorities will have up to 48 hours—an increase from the current 24-hour limit—to initiate simplified pre-trial criminal proceedings upon receiving written or recorded verbal information, provided that the conditions specified in Article 293-1 of the Code are not met. Furthermore, the duration for conducting such simplified pre-trial investigations for minor offenses will be extended from 10 days to 30 days.
The legislative package also introduces terminology updates, replacing the word "complaint" with "information" in several articles. This adjustment acknowledges that individuals reporting incidents may intend to inform authorities of a crime rather than formally file a complaint. Additionally, the amendments allow legal entities to report criminal incidents, requiring the inclusion of the entity's name, registered address, and tax identification number in official records and final protocols.
These procedural reforms are part of Azerbaijan's ongoing efforts to modernize its judicial system, streamline the investigation process for minor offenses, and ensure greater administrative clarity in how law enforcement agencies handle incoming reports of criminal activity. The bill was adopted in the first reading following parliamentary debate.
