Azerbaijan to revise rules governing IDP status

Azerbaijan is proposing amendments to legislation that would expand the grounds for the loss of internally displaced person (IDP) status and revise social support mechanisms for displaced citizens.

The proposed changes were discussed at a joint meeting of the Azerbaijani parliament's committees on labour and social policy and human rights.

Under the amendments, a citizen would lose IDP status if they refuse housing provided by the state.

The transitional provisions stipulate that individuals who, before the law enters into force, were granted housing free of charge in territories liberated from occupation as a replacement for their previous place of residence would lose their IDP status from the date the law takes effect.

The amendments also establish that the provision of a new home will be regarded as the full restoration of the citizen's property rights.

The bill proposes changes to the social protection regime for IDPs.

Under current legislation, social protection measures remain in force for three years after conditions are created for IDPs to return to their former place of residence. For persons equated with IDPs, these measures remain in effect until conditions for return are established or until they are permanently resettled.

Under the proposed amendments, social protection measures would remain in force for three years from the date an individual loses IDP status.

The draft law also removes the requirement that, when temporarily relocated IDPs need to be rehoused, alternative accommodation must be provided within the same settlement.

Instead, the relevant executive authorities would be required to offer another residential property without the geographical restriction.

According to the transitional provisions, for IDPs who received alternative housing free of charge in the liberated territories before the law enters into force, the three-year period for social protection measures would be calculated from the date the housing was provided.