Punishment for Libel and Insult Tightened Again

Baku / 19.07.17 / Turan: A bill on amendments to the Criminal Code has been submitted to Milli Majlis. The changes suggest an increase in penalties and relate to articles 147 (libel) and 148 (insult).

Thus, for violation of article 147, paragraph 1, the distribution of knowingly false information discrediting the honor and dignity of another person or undermining his reputation in public speech, either in the media or on the Internet, fines of 1,000 to 1,500 manat are established. Now the amount of fines for these acts is from 100 to 500 manat.

Article 148 proposes to increase fines from 300 – 1,000 manat to 1,000 – 1,500 manat.

A source in the Milli Mejlis told Turan the document will be submitted to the relevant parliamentary committees on April 20 and will go to the plenary session on April 25.

Amendments are also proposed to Article 44 (fines). They envisage raising the maximum amount of a fine to compensate for property damage twofold - from 10,000 manat to 20,000 manat, taking into account the gravity of the crime committed and the property status of the convicted person.

As Turan was explained an expert, various articles of the Criminal Code provide for fines as alternative punishments for the crime committed. In addition, courts may impose fines for damages. According to the expert, in Azerbaijan it is very difficult to objectively establish the amount of damage caused because of the arbitrary investigations conducted by law enforcement agencies. -06B--