Azerbaijani Parliament tightens punishments for destruction of green spaces

Azerbaijan's Parliament has approved amendments to legislation in the third and final reading, which provide for increased fines and criminal liability for destruction or damage to green spaces, Report informs.

The proposed changes to the Criminal Code were discussed at today's parliamentary plenary session. According to the changes in the Criminal Code: For significant damage resulting from careless handling of fire or other sources of increased danger (from 5,000 ($2,941) to 20,000 manats ($11,764)), there is a fine of twice the amount of damage caused, correctional labor up to 1 year, restriction of freedom for up to 1 year, or imprisonment for the same period.

For major damage (from 20,000 to 50,000 manats ($29,411)), the punishment includes a fine of two to three times the damage, correctional labor up to 2 years, restriction of freedom up to 1 year, or imprisonment up to 2 years. For especially large damage (over 50,000 manats), a fine of triple the amount of damage, restriction of freedom for 2-4 years, or imprisonment for the same period is possible.

Destruction of green spaces by arson or other generally dangerous methods, or as a result of pollution with harmful substances, waste (if there is corpus delicti), provides for a fine of two to three times the damage caused, restriction of freedom for 2 to 5 years, or imprisonment for the same period. In cases of major damage, perpetrators face imprisonment for 5 to 7 years with a fine of triple the damage or without it.

For especially large damage, imprisonment for 6 to 8 years and a fine of three to four times the damage or without a fine is prescribed.