Baku: Sanctions are being revised for the illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, or carrying of weapons and explosives in Azerbaijan, following an amendment to the Criminal Code approved by President Ilham Aliyev. The changes were reported by APA.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Article 228 of the Criminal Code has been reworded to address these illegal activities. The revised law stipulates that illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, or carrying of firearms, components, and ammunition-excluding smooth-bore hunting weapons and their ammunition-as well as explosives and devices, will be met with corrective labor for up to two years, restriction of freedom for two to three years, or imprisonment for up to three years. More severe penalties, ranging from three to five years of imprisonment, apply if the acts are committed by groups, organized gangs, or individuals abusing their official positions.

The illegal sale of firearms, their components, and explosives will result in imprisonment for four to eight years. If these acts are premeditated by groups, organized gangs, or involve official misconduct, media usage, or repeated offenses, the penalty increases to five to eleven years of imprisonment.

For the illegal acquisition, sale, or carrying of gas weapons and cold weapons, the punishment includes community service for 320 to 400 hours, corrective labor for up to two years, restriction of freedom for up to one year, or imprisonment for up to one year. Exceptions apply for carrying cold weapons in national costume areas or for hunting.

Individuals who voluntarily surrender these items are exempt from criminal liability, provided their actions do not constitute another criminal offense.