Is it possible to refund money to those who paid a fine for violating the rules of the fight against coronavirus?

Fines collected from individuals in Turkey for violating mask-wearing regulations and other COVID-19 related prohibitions are now being reimbursed following a decision by the country's Constitutional Court. The ruling enables citizens to reclaim the amounts they had paid in fines.

Official records reveal that during the coronavirus pandemic, approximately 1.39 million individuals were fined in Turkey for non-compliance with mask mandates and curfew violations. These fines amounted to a total of 3 billion Turkish liras. A quarter of those fined settled their penalties.

Further reports indicate that fines totaling 1 billion Turkish liras, unpaid by 67.5 million people, were nullified according to the law. Consequently, 321 million Turkish liras paid by 309,000 individuals during the pandemic period are slated for return to the fine payers.

Azerbaijan similarly implemented a quarantine regimen in March 2020 due to the pandemic. While the quarantine measures have not been completely lifted, mask requirements and associated bans have been eased. The precise number of fines issued during that period and the total sum collected in Azerbaijan remain undisclosed by official sources.

Economist Rashad Hasanov, responding to inquiries from RFE, shared his perspective on the issue, advocating for a multifaceted approach. He drew attention to Turkey's adoption of amnesty measures not only for fines but also for release from credit and financial obligations. In Azerbaijan, a similar practice pertains to legal entities, primarily involving the write-off of utility obligations.

Hasanov raised questions about how citizens navigating the shadow economy could obtain necessary permissions during the pandemic. He highlighted the challenges faced by those forced to work amid restrictions and subsequently fined. He suggested that, considering the long-term policy shortcomings, the cancellation of fines might be justifiable for citizens. However, this could lead to debates about the treatment of those who have already paid fines.

Hasanov proposed that Azerbaijan should consider a decision to waive remaining obligations and reimburse fines, but he acknowledged that such a decision might not materialize given current circumstances.

As of August 10, more than 830,000 individuals in Azerbaijan have contracted COVID-19, resulting in around 10,300 deaths. While the World Health Organization declared the end of the pandemic, the country has extended its special quarantine measures until October 2. The incidence of the virus has substantially declined within Azerbaijan over recent months.