INFORMATION of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the measures necessary to be taken in the courts to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the Republic of Azerbaijan

         The following should be recommended to the courts of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the consideration of cases, taking into account recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Decision of the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated May 1, 2020, the inevitability to continue the approach in the Decision No.6 of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dated April 23, 2020, regarding the prevention of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

1. On the courts operating in the administrative territory of Baku, Sumgayit, Ganja, Lankaran cities and Absheron region until 00:00 on May 31, 2020, the period to which the special quarantine regime is extended:

1.1 Consideration of other cases in the proceedings should be suspended temporarily except for cases to be considered urgently or do not require court hearings (selection, extension, change, repeal of restrictive measures, cases of administrative detention, appeals in the execution of a judgment or other final decision of the court when necessary, taking measures to secure the claim, order proceedings, simplified proceedings on minor claims, special proceedings on some categories, etc.);

1.2 The use of the opportunities to consider cases considered in administrative judicial proceedings without conducting an oral judicial hearing (oral hearings) should be continued, taking into account the requirements of Article 16 of the Administrative and Processual Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan;

1.3 The use of the opportunities to conduct court proceedings on civil cases and commercial disputes via the “Electronic court” information system should be continued, taking into account the requirements of the Civil and Processual Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan;

1.4 Criminal cases against the accused persons about whom pre-trial detention was selected during the pre-trial proceedings should be accepted for court proceedings;

1.5 Other necessary issues that stem from the recommendations of the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the work regime of judges and court staff should be resolved;

1.6 As the reception of citizens has been suspended, the reception should be held only by telephone, mobile and internet communication. Individuals and legal entities should be recommended to send their applications, as well as appeals and cassation complaints to the courts by mail or electronically.

2. On the courts operating in other regions and cities of the republic and the administrative territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, except for Baku, Sumgayit, Ganja, Lankaran cities and Absheron region since 00:00 on May 4, 2020:

2.1 Acceptance and consideration of cases should be fully restored;

2.2 Judicial activity shall be conducted in accordance with the necessary social behaviour and sanitary-epidemiological rules established by the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan;

2.3 It shall be taken into account that it is prohibited to gather in groups more than 10 people together in courtrooms, as well as inside administrative buildings during court proceedings;

2.4 It shall be ensured that citizens use protective masks, follow personal hygiene, medical and preventive rules, as well as social distance when they are in court buildings;

2.5 Administrative buildings of courts shall be disinfected regularly and equipped with protective and hygienic means;

2.6 The reception of citizens shall be restored by observing the necessary social behaviour and sanitary-epidemiological rules.