Azerbaijan
Tools
Tasks
Users
Scope
Training
Regulation
Insights
Information uploaded as at July 2026
AT A GLANCE
Azerbaijan is in the early stages of integrating AI into its criminal justice system, with adoption focused primarily on administrative efficiency rather than decision-making. Law enforcement uses AI-based risk analysis in customs and border enforcement, prosecutors use AI to manage citizen complaints and are developing investigation support tools, and the judiciary is piloting AI and business intelligence tools for court administration while planning AI-assisted procedural screening and draft decisions in simple cases. The E-qanun.ai platform provides AI-powered legal research for prosecutors, judges and lawyers.
There is no AI-specific legislation governing criminal proceedings in Azerbaijan. Instead, AI is regulated through the 2025–2028 Artificial Intelligence Strategy and existing data protection, cybersecurity and criminal procedure laws. No AI-specific guidance or training has been issued for judges, prosecutors or lawyers, although senior judicial officials have consistently emphasised that AI should assist—rather than replace—human decision-making.
USE
Azerbaijan’s government has signaled strong ambitions for AI integration across public services, including justice and law enforcement. Its 2025-2028 AI Strategy, approved by President Aliyev in March 2025, outlines comprehensive goals to enhance AI capabilities across Azerbaijan’s economy and governance, with ambitions extending to ethical, legal, and societal considerations.
As at July 2026, however, AI adoption is concentrated at the prosecutorial and judicial levels of the criminal process, with an emphasis on administrative efficiency.
Law enforcement
As at July 2026, the adoption of AI by Azerbaijani law enforcement remains limited, though Azerbaijan has signalled its intention to modernise its public sector through enhanced digitisation, including the incorporation of AI technologies.
Data review and analysis
The State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which performs law enforcement functions relating to customs offences, smuggling, and border control, has deployed an Automated Risk Analysis System (‘ARAS’). According to the government, ARAS has been in use since 2024 and operates with AI-based machine learning algorithms, allowing for the rapid border crossing of goods and vehicles, and facilitating flexible customs clearance by processing data in advance.
Prosecutors
As at July 2026, AI is being used by Azerbaijani prosecutors for case management and legal research. This practice may develop in the future, and Azerbaijan officials have shown an interest in foreign AI prosecution models. For example, in April 2025, following a delegation’s visit to China, the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan discussed China’s experience using AI in prosecutorial work.
Case management
Since 2025, Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office has deployed AI to manage and route incoming citizen appeals, directing them to the competent staff members based on their content. In February 2026, it was reported that plans are underway to introduce a model capable of performing an auxiliary function in criminal investigations, as well as to use AI in responding to citizens’ appeals submitted to prosecution bodies, under the supervision of employees.
Legal research, analysis, and drafting support
In September 2025, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport unveiled E-qanun.ai, an AI-powered legal research platform designed to provide efficient search capabilities within Azerbaijan’s legal documents. The platform was developed through joint collaboration between the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport and the Ministry of Justice. The system was developed as part of the implementation of Azerbaijan’s 2025-2028 AI Strategy and provides rapid analysis and precise results, enabling users to obtain prompt and reliable answers to legal queries. Users can search legal information by text, by meaning, or using a hybrid approach, view AI-based analysis, and access the history of their previous searches in their personal accounts.
Courts
As at July 2026, while Azerbaijan has substantially digitised its judiciary, many of the AI-specific applications publicly described by government officials and the World Bank remain at the pilot, prototype, or planned implementation stage rather than being fully operational across the court system.
AI integration has, however, been identified as a priority. At the Second Forum of Azerbaijani Judges, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan emphasised that AI should be integrated into the workflow of the judiciary as a tool for judges and other members of the court. The Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan has also suggested that technological progress, including the integration of AI within the workflow of the judiciary, is also a priority.
When used correctly, [AI] can serve as an important support in analysing court practice, drafting legal documents, and assessing risks. That is why concrete steps are currently being taken to implement artificial intelligence in the judiciary.
Case management
Through the World Bank Group’s Judicial Services Smart Infrastructure Project, Azerbaijan’s court system has become increasingly digitised since 2014. As part of this digitisation, there are now 12 modern court complexes, implementing a nationwide e-court and e-enforcement system. The e-court system automates case management processes, audio-visual recording of court proceedings, and permitting applicants to file electronically and conduct proceedings online. As a result, case processing times dropped from 187 days to approximately 119 days, judges now handle three times the caseload, and public satisfaction with the courts rose from 44.6% to 69.3%. The World Bank Group’s reporting suggests that AI features may already be included, or piloted in the future.
The World Bank Group’s reporting of the modernisation of Azerbaijan’s judiciary also suggests that AI tools have been piloted by judicial staff to provide heatmaps and traffic light systems, helping courts to ‘detect and resolve poor performance hotspots’.
Legal research, analysis, and drafting support
The E-qanun.ai platform, discussed above, also provides an AI-powered legal research platform for judicial office holders.
Decision-making support
As at July 2026, there are reported plans to introduce tools to predict court decision-making within Azerbaijan’s court system. In February 2026, a member of the Judicial-Legal Council of Azerbaijan said that AI will be used in court proceedings to check whether claims, appeals, cassation requests, and complaints submitted to the courts comply with procedural norms. In simpler cases, such as applications and complaints submitted under executive or administrative procedures, the AI system will provide draft decisions. It was said that one of the key goals of such initiatives is to enable the prediction of court decisions, so that ‘[c]itizens will be able to assess the likelihood of their claims being accepted before submitting them to court’.
Defence
Legal research, analysis, and drafting support
The E-qanun.ai platform, discussed above, provides an AI-powered legal research platform for lawyers in Azerbaijan.
Victims
A person directly harmed by a criminal act acquires formal party status as ‘the victim’ once so recognised by the investigator, prosecutor, or court. Under Article 87.6 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cinayət-Prosessual Məcəlləsi), the victim is granted an extensive, directly exercisable bundle of rights, including the right to know the nature of the charge (Article 87.6.1); to give statements and make submissions (Article 87.6.2–87.6.3); to present evidence for the case file (Article 87.6.4); to raise objections and submit applications (Article 87.6.5–87.6.6); to request recognition as a ‘victim bringing a private prosecution’ before trial begins (Article 87.6.7); to review investigative records and comment on their accuracy (Article 87.6.9); and to lodge appeal or cassation complaints on the sentence and other court decisions without restriction (Article 87.6.14). This is a direct standing, as the victim acts in their own name, not through a representative or derivative status.
Indirect standing (the legal successor – ‘hüquqi varis’) is set under Article 106 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Where the direct victim has died (or in certain other cases cannot exercise their rights), a close relative may be recognised as the victim’s ‘legal successor’.
As at July 2026, there are no reported cases of AI tools being used by victims in criminal proceedings in Azerbaijan.
TRAINING
As at July 2026, there is no publicly reported AI-specific training programme for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, or lawyers in Azerbaijan.
REGULATION
As at July 2026, there is no legislation specifically governing the use of AI in Azerbaijan. Instead, the regulatory landscape governing the use of AI in criminal proceedings is shaped by general AI strategy documents, existing data protection and cybersecurity laws, criminal procedure rules, and human rights obligations under international and regional human rights frameworks.
AI regulations
As at July 2026, there is no legislation specifically governing the use of AI in Azerbaijan. However, the Artificial Intelligence Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2025-2028 (Presidential Decree No. 530, 19 March 2025)—though not a form of binding AI regulation—outlines goals for enhancing AI capabilities and integration across the economy, including ethical and human rights considerations. The Strategy emphasises the importance of establishing a regulatory legal framework that promotes responsible and ethical AI use. According to the Strategy, a dedicated legal framework for AI is expected to be established by 2027.
In May 2024, the Council of Europe adopted the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, which is the ‘first-ever international legally binding treaty’ regulating AI. The Convention establishes rules relating to respect for fundamental rights at all stages of the AI systems lifecycle, which must be transposed into the domestic law of the signatory states.
The Convention establishes seven fundamental principles for AI systems development: human dignity and individual autonomy (Article 7), transparency and oversight (Article 8), accountability and responsibility (Article 9), equality and non-discrimination (Article 10), privacy and personal data protection (Article 11), reliability (Article 12) and safe innovation (Article 13). The Convention applies across all public and private uses of AI where human rights may be affected, including within law enforcement, prosecution and judicial activities. It mandates risk and impact assessments to mitigate potential harms and provides safeguards such as the right to challenge AI-driven decisions. As at July 2026, the Convention has not been signed by Azerbaijan, but as a Council of Europe member state, Azerbaijan participated in its development.
Guidelines for practitioners
As at July 2026, there are no specific guidelines for practitioners, including law enforcement, judges, prosecutors or lawyers, on the responsible use of AI in legal practice. There is no public data on whether Azerbaijan has adopted or otherwise engaged with the UNESCO Guidelines for the Use of AI Systems in Courts and Tribunals (2025).
[AI tools] can be useful tools in terms of systemising judicial practice, analysing legal databases and increasing access to court services. At the same time, it should be taken into account that the essence of justice is not limited only to technical procedures. It is based on legal reasoning, conscience, inner conviction and the proper assessment of the essence of human rights. Therefore, artificial intelligence cannot fully replace judicial discretion and the human factor.
Criminal procedure rules
As at July 2026, Azerbaijan’s Criminal Procedure Code does not contain provisions specifically addressing the use of AI in criminal proceedings, including the use of AI-generative evidence or AI-assisted decision-making. However, Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis (National Assembly) is reviewing draft amendments to both the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code that would impose criminal liability for creating and distributing AI-generated images, videos, or audio of a real person without their consent. The proposed penalties range to up to three years’ imprisonment, rising for group offences or those targeting multiple victims. Under the proposed amendments, AI-generated content distributed publicly would also be required to carry a clear label identifying it as artificially generated.
There have already been arrests by Azerbaijan’s Main Cybercrime Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in cases where suspects allegedly used AI to manipulate citizens’ photos and videos on TikTok, Instagram and Telegram into offensive formats and demanding money for their removal. There is no direct public information on which law was used as a basis for these arrests. However, based on the pattern of the alleged conduct, the charge is most likely brought under Article 182 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code (hədə-qorxu ilə tələb etmə, extortion/blackmail).
Data protection legislation
Azerbaijan’s Law on Personal Data of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Law No. 998-IIIQ of 11 May 2010) establishes the legal requirements for the collection and processing of personal data in Azerbaijan, drawing on principles similar to those in the EU General Data Protection Regulation. It grants individuals the right not to be subject to automated decision-making, the right to be informed, the right to access, rectification, erasure, and the right to object. Violations are enforceable through the Administrative Violations Code and can result in criminal liability, including fines and up to seven years’ imprisonment. The law covers the protection of biometric data, including fingerprints, facial images, iris scans, voice fragments, DNA, and handwriting.
In 2025, a draft law on personal data protection was also published, aiming to prevent risks relating to the use of AI (see below, ‘Outlook’ section).
Cybersecurity laws
Azerbaijan’s Law on Information, Informatization and Information storage establishes the general legal framework governing the creation, processing, storage, dissemination and protection of information, as well as the establishment and operation of information systems and information technologies. It applies broadly to public and private information systems and regulates the rights and responsibilities of participants in information processes, rather than addressing AI specifically. Amendments introduced in 2022, however, add a new chapter on the security of critical information infrastructure (Law No. 539-VIQD).
Under the legislation, information resources and systems must be protected against unauthorised access, destruction, alteration, blocking, copying and dissemination. Public authorities operating AI systems would therefore be expected to implement appropriate technical and organisational safeguards to protect criminal justice data and maintain system integrity.
The Criminal Code of Azerbaijan also includes provisions criminalising unauthorised access to computer systems and data, online fraud, and cyberattacks, aligned with the Council of Europe’s Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, to which Azerbaijan is a party.
As at July 2026, there are initiatives to increase cybersecurity protections in Azerbaijan. Under the Information Security and Cybersecurity Strategy for 2023-2027 (Presidential Decree No. 4060, 28 August 2023), the national approach to cybersecurity is defined as protecting State, business and individual information from cyber threats, including measures to combat cybercrime, promote cybersecurity awareness, and strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure.
Human rights
Azerbaijan ratified the European Convention on Human Rights (‘ECHR’) in April 2002. Azerbaijan’s Constitution provides that in any conflict between domestic legislation and ratified international agreements, the international agreements prevail, the Constitution itself being the sole exception. This means that ECHR protections directly apply to the use of AI in criminal proceedings. Relevant ECHR protections include:
- The right to a fair trial (Article 6, ECHR);
- The right to equality before the law (Article 6, ECHR); and
- The right to privacy (Article 8, ECHR).
Moreover, the Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law deserves special mention as a multilateral initiative, being the first legally binding international treaty specifically designed to regulate AI. Opened for signature in September 2024, its primary objective is to ensure that as AI technologies evolve, they do not erode the fundamental pillars of modern society: human rights, democratic integrity, and the rule of law. As at July 2026, the Convention has not yet entered into force, as the minimum number of five ratifications has not been reached yet. Azerbaijan has not signed the Convention but took part in its preparation. The Convention focuses on the lifecycle of AI systems, from design to decommissioning, and mandates adherence to seven fundamental principles: human dignity, transparency, accountability, equality, privacy, reliability, and safe innovation. It requires signatories to establish independent oversight bodies and provide clear legal remedies for individuals who suffer harm due to AI systems.
Azerbaijan also ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (‘ICCPR’). The following provisions are most relevant to AI use in criminal proceedings:
- Article 14 – Right to a fair trial: Article 14 is the ICCPR’s most detailed fair trial provision, guaranteeing equality before courts and tribunals, and a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal in the determination of any criminal charge.
- Article 26 – Equality before the law: Article 26 provides that all persons are equal before the law and are entitled without discrimination to equal protection of the law, and requires that the law prohibit any discrimination and guarantee equal and effective protection against discrimination on grounds such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
- Article 17 – Right to privacy: Article 17 provides that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with their privacy, family, home or correspondence, and that everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference.
Azerbaijan also ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (‘CRC’), which has provisions relevant to AI use in criminal proceedings:
- Article 40 – Juvenile justice: Article 40 requires that a child alleged, accused of, or recognised as having infringed the penal law be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child's sense of dignity and worth, reinforcing respect for the human rights of others, and taking into account the child's age and the desirability of reintegration.
- Article 16 – Right to privacy: Article 16 provides that no child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with their privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on their honour and reputation, and that the child has the right to the protection of the law against such interference.
Outlook
The Artificial Intelligence Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2025-2028 is aimed at accelerating the country’s digital transformation and positioning it as a regional AI leader by building a competitive, sustainable AI ecosystem aligned with global standards, with a dedicated legal framework expected to enter into force by 2027. It focuses on four main pillars:
- Establishing governance and regulatory frameworks, including ethical, privacy, and security standards;
- Investing in data infrastructure and high-performance computing;
- Developing human capital through education, training programmes, and an AI Academy; and
- Fostering a supportive business environment with incentives for innovation and public–private collaboration.
The strategy prioritises integrating AI into key sectors such as public administration, healthcare, and agriculture, while promoting economic competitiveness, research, and public awareness. It is implemented through a detailed action plan with defined responsibilities, timelines, and funding mechanisms, and also addresses risks such as data protection, skills shortages, and limited real-world deployment through international cooperation and pilot projects.
There are amendments which were formally made to the Criminal Code, introducing new Criminal Code Articles 148-2 and 242-1. Article 148-2 criminalises the creation or dissemination of AI-generated (or specially manipulated) photo, video, or audio material using a person’s image or voice without consent, and Article 242-1 separately criminalises AI-generated pornographic or sexually explicit material using a person's image or voice without consent:
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Article |
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Article 148-2. Unlawful creation or dissemination of photo, video, or audio materials by means of AI technologies or special software |
1. Creating, without the person’s consent and by using their image or voice, photo, video, or audio materials that do not reflect reality, by means of AI technologies or special software, or disseminating such materials in the media, or — where publicly displayed — on internet information resources or in information and telecommunication networks — is punishable by a fine of three thousand to seven thousand manat, or by community service of three hundred and sixty to four hundred and eighty hours, or by restriction of liberty for up to three years, or by deprivation of liberty for the same term. 2. The same acts, where: 2.1. committed by a group of persons or by a group of persons acting in prior concert; 2.2. committed against two or more persons; 2.3. committed with the aim of damaging a person’s honour and dignity or discrediting them; 2.4. committed against the victim, or against their close relatives, in connection with the victim’s performance of their official duties or public duty — are punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term of three to five years. |
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Article 242-1. Unlawful creation or dissemination of pornographic or sexually explicit photo, video, or audio materials by means of AI technologies or special software |
Creating, without the person’s consent and by using their image or voice, pornographic or sexually explicit photo, video, or audio materials by means of AI technologies or special software, or disseminating such materials in the media, or — where publicly displayed — on internet information resources or in information and telecommunication networks — is punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term of three to seven years. |
Moreover, in 2025 a draft law on personal data protection was published, aiming to address risks in the digital environment, including threats from AI such as deepfakes and disinformation. The law aims to enhance personal data security, increase accountability, and build citizen trust. There is no confirmation that this instrument has been formally tabled before the Milli Majlis (Parliament of Azerbaijan), passed any reading, or entered into force as at July 2026.
Any innovation must be implemented in a way that balances security and protects individual rights. A proper legislative framework is essential for this. We hope the new draft law [on data protection] will meet modern challenges and ensure the reliable protection of citizens’ rights… This includes identity, behavioral patterns, biometric indicators, and transactional data. Such widespread data collection creates significant cybersecurity risks. A vulnerability in the software or technical configuration of even a simple device can compromise the entire infrastructure, increasing the risk of data theft and other threats.
