Why is the Decree on Salary Increases for Officials Being Kept Confidential?

Bakı/17.06.23/Turan: In a recent study conducted by BBC Azerbaijan, it was revealed that the salaries of senior officials in Azerbaijan were significantly increased last year. However, the decree pertaining to these salary adjustments was not made available to the public online and was only found in the collection of laws at the presidential library. Decree No. 1609, which authorizes the salary increases, was discovered by a BBC-Azerbaijan correspondent in the "Collection of Legislative Acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan" published in March 2022.

The decree itself was not shared on internet platforms, but it was noted in the 2004 Decree of the same name that portions of it had been canceled by Decree No. 1609 issued on March 1, 2022. According to the study, Decree No. 1609 stipulates significant salary changes for high-ranking officials such as the Prime Minister, deputy prime ministers, ministers, and their deputies. For instance, the Prime Minister's salary, which was 2,460 manats in 2018, now stands at 3,690 manats. Additionally, the Prime Minister receives an additional amount equal to twice the official salary, totaling around 11,000 manats, excluding taxes and deductions.

The secrecy surrounding the decree raises questions about why officials' salaries are being kept hidden from the public. Lawyer Ekram Hasanov shed light on this matter during the program "Difficult Question," highlighting that this is not the first instance of such secrecy. Previously, until March 1, 2022, government officials' salaries were determined through presidential orders, despite the constitutional requirement for decrees to establish general rules and orders to cover other matters. While the orders were published, the appendices specifying salary details were not made available, as stipulated in those orders.

According to Hasanov, the decree signed on March 1, 2022, which finally aligned with the constitutional requirements, was the first instance where new salaries were explicitly mentioned. However, this decree was not officially published. According to the Constitution, "decrees and orders of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan come into force from the date of their publication, unless otherwise provided in them." Consequently, officials have been receiving salaries unlawfully for a year and a half, as pointed out by the lawyer.

Hasanov also highlighted that while the salaries of the president, deputies, judges, and the Ombudsman are publicly known, the salaries of the heads of the Internal Affairs Service (IAS), the Prime Minister, and other officials remain undisclosed. The lawyer speculates that this secrecy may have been motivated by an attempt to prevent public scrutiny and criticism regarding the high salaries received by officials that may be perceived as undeserved.