This page provides information on the national frameworks to address hate crime in Azerbaijan. The information provided here should be viewed alongside data presented on Azerbaijan's hate crime report page.

Hate crime recording and data collection

Any information about a bias-motivated incident reported to law enforcement is considered primarily as information about a criminal offence, subject to Article 207 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). The relevant provisions of the CPC allow law enforcement bodies and prosecutors to take necessary measures, including the collection of testimonies and the involvement of specialists and forensic experts for their professional evaluation.

Both police and prosecutors can receive reports of bias-motivated incidents via various channels, including in writing, through the website, email or hotlines: 102 hotline of the police and 961 hotline (toll free) of the Prosecution Service. Internal regulations require that the information be referred to the competent unit, designated by location or the competency of specialized investigation authorities, depending on the seriousness of the crime. Cases of a serious nature are investigated by a specialized national investigation unit in the General Prosecutor's Office.

Hate crime victim support

There is no specific hate crime victim support structure in Azerbaijan. Hate crime victims have the same rights to protection and support as offered to victims of other crimes. According to the Criminal Procedure Code, the victim enjoys a range of rights. Victims are entitled to actively participate in the inquiry, investigation and adjudication. The victims are recognized by the Criminal Procedure Code as the 'prosecution' side opposing the 'defence side' in the criminal proceedings. The victim and their legal representative are entitled to raise the matters and issues, submit evidence, and demand investigation of certain aspects.

There are no specific state organizations providing specialist support exclusively to hate crime victims. However, victims of hate crimes can receive material or psychological support available to victims of crimes against the person, sexual crimes, and any other crimes committed against vulnerable groups. Civil society organizations (CSOs) provide specialist support for cases related to gender and domestic violence.

Hate crime victims can benefit from the same protection measures as available to victims of other offences, including shelter, urgent medical assistance, psychosocial counselling, legal consultation and representation, as well as interpretation and translation services. The provision of these services is mandatory under the Criminal Procedure Code. Failure to provide such services will lead to serious disciplinary actions.

Regarding the mechanisms to facilitate the participation of hate crime victims in the criminal justice process, prosecutors and judges are responsible for offering a needs assessment at the trial stage. They are authorized to involve specialists to address the needs of each victim.

The hate crime victim participating in the proceedings (as the "prosecution party", and not merely as a witness) has access to the criminal case file. According to the Criminal Procedure Code, the Prosecutor's Office is obliged to inform the victim about a decision not to pursue the case as a hate crime when they press charges for the base offence. The victim is entitled to present the impact of the crime in court. The emotional harm suffered by the hate crime victim can influence the amount of compensation awarded. The victim can also demand material damage, including financial loss, as well as publication of information in the media.

Hate crime capacity building

During courses, training sessions, conferences, seminars, and educational programmes organized by the Science and Education Centre of the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan, lectures on the topic of "instilling national, racial, social, or religious hatred and enmity" are included in the curriculum and delivered by trainers.