Baku: Azerbaijan is set to introduce stricter penalties for actions classified as minor hooliganism and online public misconduct. Actions that openly express disrespect for society without involving violence or damage to property will now fall under the category of minor hooliganism, subject to administrative arrest or fines.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, these provisions are part of proposed amendments to the Administrative Offences Code, discussed at a recent session of the Milli Majlis.

The amendments propose fines ranging from 50 to 100 manats for minor hooliganism. In cases where these penalties are deemed insufficient, offenders may face administrative arrest for up to 15 days. Further, acts that insult public morality or express disrespect on internet platforms, including the use of obscene language or inappropriate gestures, may incur fines between 500 to 1,000 manats. For more severe cases, administrative detention for up to 30 days may be applied.

The legislation stipulates that repeat offenses within a year can attract fines from 1,000 to 2,000 manats, with the possibility of administrative arrest for one to two months if necessary. The new measures aim to address the surge in disrespectful behavior on social media, which threatens societal values and has a detrimental impact on youth behavior.

The draft law, which seeks to enhance the protection of moral values and regulate online conduct, was put to a vote and approved in its first reading.