Database

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AZERBAIJAN

Since July 2023, entry into force in November 2023

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator Restrictions on online payments
Law No. 987-VIQ, on Payment Services and Payment Systems (“Ödəniş xidmətləri və ödəniş sistemləri haqqında” Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanunu № 987-VIQ)
Art. 12 of the Law on Payment Services and Payment Systems stipulates that the issuance of electronic money within the territory of Azerbaijan may be undertaken solely by banks and local branches of foreign banks, the national postal operator, and electronic money institutions, meaning that only electronic money issued and authorised domestically is legally recognised. The issuer must immediately generate electronic money equivalent to the funds received for that purpose and ensure that the electronic money holder is able to use it. The currency, maximum permissible amount of electronic money, and the upper limit of obligations arising from electronic money issued by a single issuer are to be determined by normative acts of the Central Bank. Pursuant to Art. 13.2, legal entities, local branches of foreign legal entities, and individual entrepreneurs may acquire electronic money only by transferring funds from their respective payment accounts to the issuer. Art. 14 further requires electronic money institutions to submit information concerning payment accounts opened for such persons to the designated body of the relevant executive authority, in the manner and within the timeframe prescribed by that body. Arts. 52 and 57 govern the licensing of local branches of foreign payment institutions, foreign electronic money institutions, and foreign operators, thereby requiring any foreign payment service providers, electronic money issuers, or operators of payment systems seeking to operate in Azerbaijan to do so through licensed branch offices.
Coverage Online payments

AZERBAIJAN

Since October 2013

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic of 14 October 2013 No. 305 about approval of "The Preferential and Simplified Rules of Movement by Physical Persons through Customs Border of the Goods which Are Not Provided for Production or for Dealing Purposes" (Azərbaycan Respublikası Nazirlər Kabinetinin 2013-cü il 14 oktyabr tarixli 305 nömrəli Qərarı “Fiziki şəxslər tərəfindən istehsal, yaxud kommersiya məqsədləri üçün nəzərdə tutulmayan malların gömrük sərhədindən keçirilməsinin güzəştli və sadələşdirilmiş qaydaları”nın təsdiq edilməsi haqqında)
Section 2.1.4 of "The Preferential and Simplified Rules of Movement by Physical Persons through Customs Border of the Goods which Are Not Provided for Production or for Dealing Purposes" provides that certain goods may be brought across the customs border without payment of customs duties. This applies to goods delivered into the customs territory once per calendar month in the name of the same individual via international postal consignments or through a courier company, provided that their total customs value does not exceed the equivalent of USD 300.
Coverage Horizontal

AZERBAIJAN

Reported in 2022, last reported in 2025

Pillar Content access  |  Indicator Presence of Internet shutdowns
Presence of Internet shutdowns
The indicator "6.2.4 - Government Internet shut down in practice" of the V-Dem Dataset, which measures whether the government has the technical capacity to actively make internet service cease, thus interrupting domestic access to the internet or whether the government has decided to do so, has a score of 3 in Azerbaijan. This corresponds to "Rarely but there have been a few occasions throughout the year when the government shut down domestic access to Internet."
Coverage Horizontal

AZERBAIJAN

Since December 2021

Pillar Content access  |  Indicator Licensing schemes for digital services and applications
Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Media (Media haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanunu)
Art. 31 of the Law on Media stipulates that an on‑demand media service provider must operate under a licence. Such a provider makes its programme catalogues available either through the transmission mechanisms of a platform operator or directly via the Internet, including through mobile applications. The on‑demand media service provider is required to furnish the Council with information concerning all programmes included in its programme catalogue, as well as the agreements establishing the broadcasting rights acquired for the dissemination of these programmes.
Art. 32.1 of the Law on Media stipulates that a platform operator must hold a licence in order to conduct its activities. Art. 1.1.21 defines a platform operator as any natural or legal person that retransmits programmes, including on‑demand media services, via cable, IPTV, OTT, mobile television, or satellite by means of encoded broadcast signals. Pursuant to Art. 12.4, a platform operator is required to submit to the Council a copy of the agreement concluded between itself and a foreign audiovisual broadcaster, or a person authorised to contract on the broadcaster’s behalf, for the purpose of retransmitting the programmes of foreign audiovisual broadcasters.
Coverage On‑demand media service provider and audiovisual retransmission platform operators

AZERBAIJAN

Since March 2016

Pillar Content access  |  Indicator Licensing schemes for digital services and applications
Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Licenses and Permits (Lisenziyalar və icazələr haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanunu)
Appendix No. 1 to the Law on Licences and Permits enumerates the categories of activities for which a licence is required, including IP telephony.
Coverage IP telephony

AZERBAIJAN

Since March 2016

Pillar Content access  |  Indicator Licensing schemes for digital services and applications
Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Licenses and Permits (Lisenziyalar və icazələr haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanunu)
Appendix No. 1 to the Law on Licences and Permits enumerates the categories of activities for which a licence is required, including data transmission.
Coverage Data transmission

AZERBAIJAN

Since March 2016
Since May 2010

Pillar Content access  |  Indicator Licensing schemes for digital services and applications
Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Licenses and Permits (Lisenziyalar və icazələr haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanunu)

Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan of 11 May 2010 No. 998-IIIQ on Personal Data (Azərbaycan Respublikasının qanunu fərdi məlumatlar haqqında)
Appendix No. 2 to the Law on Licences and Permits sets out the categories of activity requiring a licence in cases relating to State security, including the establishment of personal data information resources, the development and maintenance of information systems, activities in the field of design and manufacturing of information security products, and the development of biometric technologies and the maintenance of such technologies.
Art. 9.14 of the Law on Personal Data provides that the establishment of personal data information resources and the development of information systems, as well as the provision of related services, may be undertaken only pursuant to a special permit (licence) issued in accordance with Azerbaijani legislation. Art. 15 further requires that personal data information systems be registered with the competent executive authority, and, save for certain limited exceptions, the collection and processing of personal data is prohibited in the absence of such state registration. Under Arts. 2.1.3 and 2.1.4, personal data information resources are defined as personal data contained within information systems in the manner and to the extent prescribed by law, as well as distinct information resources in which personal data is collected, whereas a personal data information system refers to an information system that ensures the collection, processing, and storage of personal data in accordance with legislative requirements.
Coverage Information-related systems

AZERBAIJAN

Since December 2005

Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Other import restrictions, including non-transparent/discriminatory import procedures
Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 230 (Azərbaycan Respublikası Nazirlər Kabinetinin 230 nömrəli qərarı)
The List of Executive Authorities Responsible for Implementing Export Controls, approved by Decision No. 230, indicates that electronics are subject to import licensing requirements.
Coverage Electronics

AZERBAIJAN

Since December 2005

Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Other import restrictions, including non-transparent/discriminatory import procedures
Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 230 (Azərbaycan Respublikası Nazirlər Kabinetinin 230 nömrəli qərarı)
The List of Executive Authorities Responsible for Implementing Export Controls, approved by Decision No. 230, specifies that computing technology is subject to import and re‑import licensing requirements. The term computing technology is not defined in the text of the Decision. The issuance of special permits involves the Ministry of Energy, with respect to installations, equipment, and their components, and the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, with respect to software and related technologies.
Coverage Computing technology

AZERBAIJAN

Since December 2005

Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Other import restrictions, including non-transparent/discriminatory import procedures
Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 230 (Azərbaycan Respublikası Nazirlər Kabinetinin 230 nömrəli qərarı)
The List of Executive Authorities Responsible for Implementing Export Controls, approved by Decision No. 230, stipulates that telecom and information security systems are subject to import and re‑import licensing requirements. With regard to telecom security systems, the issuance of special permits is entrusted to the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan. With regard to information security, special permits are issued on the basis of conclusions provided by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the State Security Service and the Special State Protection Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Coverage Telecom and information security systems

AZERBAIJAN

Since December 2005

Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Export restrictions on ICT goods or online services
Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 230 (Azərbaycan Respublikası Nazirlər Kabinetinin 230 nömrəli qərarı)
The List of Executive Authorities Responsible for Implementing Export Controls, approved by Decision No. 230, includes electronics among the items subject to export controls.
Coverage Electronics

AZERBAIJAN

Since December 2005

Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Export restrictions on ICT goods or online services
Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 230 (Azərbaycan Respublikası Nazirlər Kabinetinin 230 nömrəli qərarı)
The List of Executive Authorities Responsible for Implementing Export Controls, approved by Decision No. 230, specifies that computing technology is subject to export and re‑export licensing requirements. The term computing technology is not defined in the text of the Decision.The issuance of special permits involves the Ministry of Energy, in relation to installations, equipment and their components, and the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, in relation to software and associated technologies.
Coverage Computing technology

AZERBAIJAN

Since December 2005

Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Export restrictions on ICT goods or online services
Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 230 (Azərbaycan Respublikası Nazirlər Kabinetinin 230 nömrəli qərarı)
The List of Executive Authorities Responsible for Implementing Export Controls, approved by Decision No. 230, stipulates that telecom and information security systems are subject to export and re‑export licensing requirements. With regard to telecom security systems, the issuance of special permits is entrusted to the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan. With regard to information security, special permits are issued on the basis of conclusions provided by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the State Security Service and the Special State Protection Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Coverage Telecom and information security systems

AZERBAIJAN

Since August 1998

Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Self-certification for product safety
Decision No. 175 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan - “On the approval of the Rules for the Certification of Telecommunications Equipment and Devices in the Republic of Azerbaijan” (Azərbaycan Respublikası Nazirlər Kabinetinin Qərarı No. 175 - “Azərbaycan Respublikasında telekommunikasiya vasitələri və qurğularının sertifikatlaşdırılması Qaydalarının təsdiq edilməsi haqqında”)
Section 4.14 of the "Rules for the Certification of Telecommunications Equipment and Devices in Azerbaijan" stipulates that telecommunications equipment and devices (TE) lacking a certificate of conformity and imported without recognition under the national certification system shall not be permitted for release into the customs territory of Azerbaijan, and their sale and operation are prohibited. Section 6.1 further provides that the second and third phases of the TE certification process include the selection of a sample and its submission for testing to the Telecommunications Equipment Certification Centre (TECC) of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport and, where necessary, to accredited testing laboratories of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Emergency Situations or other relevant authorities.
Coverage Telecommunications equipment and devices

AZERBAIJAN

Since April 1998, as amended in March 2017

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator Monitoring requirement
Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan of 3 April 1998 No. 460-IQ on Information, Informatization and Protection of Information (İnformasiya, informasiyalaşdırma və informasiyanın mühafizəsi haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanunu)
Art. 13‑2.3 of Law No. 460‑IQ stipulates that the proprietor and the users of an Internet information resource and its associated domain name must ensure that the resource or network is not used for the placement of information whose dissemination is prohibited. An internet information resource is defined as an information resource created on the internet network, used for the dissemination of information, and identified by a domain name and other markers determined by its owner for access, while information resources are defined documents and document collections held in information systems (such as libraries, archives, repositories, data banks, etc.), as well as documents and document collections that exist separately.
Coverage Internet information resource

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