In its fourth report on Azerbaijan, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recommended that colour, language, citizenship and ethnic origin be included as protected characteristics in the criminal law provisions dealing with hate crimes. It also stated that LGBT people should be better protected in law and in practice. ECRI also highlighted the need for the police and prosecution services to thoroughly investigate all cases of hate crime and conduct outreach to groups likely to be targeted.

In its "Concluding observations on the combined seventh to ninth periodic reports of Azerbaijan", the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed concern about the misuse of criminal code provisions on incitement to hatred and on instances of official condoning of hate crimes.