Baku: Fines for those who violate the requirements for the protection and use of historical and cultural monuments are being tightened, APA reports. This development is reflected in the proposed amendment to the Code of Administrative Offenses, which was discussed at a joint meeting of the Parliamentary Committees on Law Policy and State Building and Culture.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the draft amendment stipulates that for violating the requirements for the protection and use of cultural and natural heritage, including historical and cultural monuments in accordance with the Law “On the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments”, individuals will face fines of seven hundred manats, officials will be fined one thousand manats, and legal entities will be fined three thousand manats.
For causing damage to cultural assets, if the damage is deemed minor, individuals will be fined five thousand manats, officials will be fined ten thousand manats, and legal entities will incur fines of thirty thousand manats. Furthermore, if during construction or other economic activities, a historical or cultural monument is discovered and not immediately reported to the relevant authority, fines will be imposed as follows: individuals will face fines of 200 manats, officials 400 manats, and legal entities 3,000 manats.
In cases where violations are repeated within a year from the date an administrative penalty decision becomes effective for the same offense, fines will increase to 1,000 manats for individuals, 1,500 manats for officials, and 6,000 manats for legal entities. These measures apply when the actions do not constitute criminal liability under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Currently, violations are subject to a warning or a fine ranging from fifty to one hundred manats for individuals, two hundred and fifty to three hundred manats for officials, and one thousand five hundred to two thousand manats for legal entities.