President Ilham Aliyev has signed a series of legislative amendments aimed at enhancing the enforcement of the law "On Combating Corruption" in Azerbaijan. The new regulations introduce robust protections for individuals who report corruption-related offenses, ensuring their safety and professional security.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the updated legislation explicitly prohibits any form of retaliation, intimidation, or harassment against whistleblowers or their close relatives. Specifically, it is now forbidden to subject such individuals to threats, insults, or actions that cause material or moral damage, or to degrade their honor and dignity.
Under the new provisions, employers are prohibited from taking retaliatory measures against employees who report corruption. This includes unlawful termination, demotion, unauthorized salary deductions, or active and passive obstruction of career advancement. If a whistleblower provides evidence of such retaliation, the burden of proof shifts to the employer to refute these claims. Furthermore, heads of organizations are now mandated to establish internal mechanisms for receiving and investigating corruption reports, ensuring that the designated structural units responsible for these tasks operate with the necessary independence to prevent interference.
These legislative updates represent a significant step in Azerbaijan's ongoing commitment to transparency and good governance. By strengthening the legal framework surrounding whistleblower protection, the government aims to foster a more accountable public sector and encourage citizens to actively participate in anti-corruption efforts. The law also grants individuals who believe their rights have been violated the authority to appeal to higher-ranking officials or the judiciary for redress.
