Azerbaijan tightens penalties for terrorist activity

In Azerbaijan, sanctions will be imposed for creating, leading, or participating in a terrorist organization. According to Trend, this was reflected in a draft law amending the Criminal Code, which was discussed at today’s plenary session of the Milli Majlis.

According to the draft law, creating a terrorist organization or leading such an organization or its structural division will be punishable by imprisonment for a term of ten to fourteen years.

Membership in a terrorist organization or participation in its activities will be punishable by imprisonment for a term of seven to twelve years.

A person who commits the above actions is exempt from criminal liability if they promptly inform authorities or otherwise contribute to the prevention of criminal activity, the identification of those who created, led, participated in, or financed the terrorist organization, provided their actions do not constitute another crime.

Azerbaijan will also expand the list of methods for committing acts of sabotage to include the use of artificial intelligence technologies and specialized software.

Furthermore, Azerbaijan will also consider the use of operational artificial intelligence technologies and specialized software to commit acts of sabotage. Specifically, actions aimed at weakening the defense capability of the Republic of Azerbaijan, its economic security, and scientific and technological potential by destroying, damaging, or disrupting vital public facilities and critical information infrastructure, energy and transport facilities, telecommunications networks, enterprises, and structures, or causing harm to public health and the environment, including through the use of operational artificial intelligence technologies and specialized software, will be punishable by imprisonment for a term of eight to fifteen years.

The same acts committed by an organized group or criminal community, committed under a state of emergency, martial law, a state of social emergency, or during mass unrest, committed by an individual using their official position, or resulting through negligence in the death of a person or other serious consequences, are punishable by imprisonment for a term of twelve to twenty years.

A person participating in the preparation of sabotage is exempt from criminal liability if they promptly notified the authorities or otherwise contributed to the prevention of such an act, and if their actions do not constitute another criminal offense.

Following discussion, the bill was put to a vote and adopted on first reading.

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