Baku: Azerbaijan has enacted new amendments to its Criminal Code, significantly increasing penalties for terrorism-related activities. Creating or leading a terrorist organization, or its structural units, will now result in imprisonment ranging from 10 to 14 years. These changes are part of a new Article 214-4, recently approved by President Ilham Aliyev.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, membership in a terrorist organization or participation in its activities will attract a prison sentence of 7 to 12 years. However, individuals who are part of such organizations may avoid criminal charges if they inform the authorities in a timely manner or help prevent criminal acts. This exemption is conditional on their actions not constituting another crime.
The amendments also include changes to articles concerning the financing of terrorism and public incitement to terrorism, along with revisions to the Law ‘On Combating Terrorism.’ Article 282 of the Criminal Code has been revised to cover new targets such as disrupting critical infrastructure and the use of artificial intelligence in sabotage activities.
Furthermore, Article 282.2 introduces new aggravating circumstances for sabotage, including actions taken by a criminal organization, during states of emergency, or resulting in death or serious consequences. Like the terrorism-related provisions, individuals involved in planning sabotage may be exempt from liability if they assist authorities in preventing the act, provided their actions are not criminal in other respects.