Ombudsman's Office: "It is expedient to raise the amount of money paid to a lawyer for legal aid provided at the expense of the state"

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan has commented on the proposals to raise the fees paid to lawyers for legal aid provided at the expense of the state.

The Ombudsman's Office said in response to e-huquq.az inquiry that in the past, the Ombudsman proposed to raise the amount of legal aid provided by the lawyer at the expense of the state several times, taking into account that the amount paid for each hour is 0.99 manats.Decision No. 31 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan of February 1, 2001 "On the amount to be paid to lawyers, translators, specialists and experts" was amended by Resolution No. 21 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan of January 27, 2010 was determined.In order to boost the quality of legal aid, after the next proposal of the Ombudsman, according to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 202 dated May 3, 2018, the amount was raised from 2 to 6 manat.

It was noted that the raise in the relevant amount is of great importance both in boosting the quality of legal aid provided by the lawyer as an interested party, and in obtaining quality legal aid from the defendant.

The Ombudsman considers it expedient to raise the amount of fees paid to a lawyer for each working hour in order to more reliably protect and effectively ensure the right of everyone to receive high-quality legal aid, "the Ombudsman's Office said.

Earlier, MPs Bahruz Maharramov, Zahid Oruj, Chairman of the Bar Association, Anar Bagirov and President of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice of the Council of Europe (CEPEJ), Judge of the Baku Court of Appeal Ramin Garagurbanli said that boosting the quality of legal aid made proposals to raise this amount.

Khayala Bunyatova