The Government of Azerbaijan Extends Quarantine Regime Again

President Ilham Aliyev

The government of Azerbaijan has extended the special quarantine regime, which was introduced in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for another three months.

According to a decree signed by Prime Minister Ali Asadov on Monday, "in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and its possible consequences on the territory of the country," the special quarantine regime in Azerbaijan has been extended until 6:00 AM local time on January 1, 2026.

This means that the country's land borders will remain closed until that date.

In September 2024, President Ilham Aliyev stated that the continued closure of the borders is also due to "external risks" to the country's security. "The fact that our land borders have remained closed in recent years has saved us from very great disasters. Even today, when the borders remain closed, dangerous actions are being taken, and they are being thwarted. Therefore, border protection will protect us from external risks," Aliyev said.

However, independent experts point to the lack of a legal basis for the indefinite extension of the quarantine regime.

According to Samad Rahimli, head of the "Defender" Center, the restriction on crossing land borders violates the freedom of movement guaranteed by Article 28 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan and Article 2 of Protocol No. 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms.