In 2020, there were 21,008 prisoners in Azerbaijan [1], of which 5,152 (one-quarter) were imprisoned for drug law offences as of 2019 [2]. The average sentence for drug law offences is up to three (3) years in prison [3]. HIV prevalence among prisoners was estimated in 2018 at 1.9% [4] with antiretroviral therapy (ART) being reported as available [5]. However, opioid substitution therapy (OST) and needle/syringe programmes (NSP) are not available in the prisons of Azerbaijan [6].

The average cost of incarceration is €2,884 per inmate, per year, or €7.90 per day [7].

There were an estimated 60,000 people who inject drugs in Azerbaijan in 2019 with an HIV prevalence estimated at 6.9% [8]. NSP costs are estimated at €32.94 per client, per year, with the estimated OST cost of €133.36 per client, per year [9]. Average unemployment benefit is €1,735 per person, per year [10].

Consequently, it costs an estimated €1,901 per year to support one person who injects drugs in the community versus €2,884 per year to have that person in prison, a saving to the government of €983 per drug user, per year. If drug use and possession were decriminalised, this could potentially save the government of Azerbaijan over €5 million every year.

[1]   World Prison Brief. Azerbaijan. London; Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research, University of London. https://www.prisonstudies.org/country/azerbaijan (accessed 4 August 2021).
[2]   Aebi MF, Tiago MM. SPACE I – 2019 – Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics: Prison populations. Strasbourg; Council of Europe, 2020. https://wp.unil.ch/space/files/2021/02/200405_FinalReport_SPACE_I_2019.pdf (accessed 4 August 2021).
[3]   Kitachayev B. “Not my problem” – drug addiction in Azerbaijan. Baku; JAMnews, 9 February 2019. https://jam-news.net/not-my-problem-drug-addiction-in-azerbaijan/ (accessed 4 August 2021).
[4]   Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS). The Key Populations Atlas. Geneva; UNAIDS. https://kpatlas.unaids.org/dashboard
[5]   Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS). AIDSinfo. Geneva; UNAIDS. https://aidsinfo.unaids.org
[6]    Harm Reduction International (HRI). Global State of Harm Reduction 2020, Regional Overview 2.2 Eurasia. London; HRI, 2021. https://www.hri.global/files/2020/10/26/Global_State_HRI_2020_2_2_Eurasia_FA_WEB.pdf (accessed 3 August 2021).
[7]   Aebi M F, Tiago MM. SPACE I – 2020 – Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics: Prison populations. Strasbourg; Council of Europe, 2021. https://wp.unil.ch/space/files/2021/04/210330_FinalReport_SPACE_I_2020.pdf (accessed 3 August 2021).
[8]   Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS). UNAIDS data 2019. Geneva; UNAIDS, 4 December 2019. https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2019-UNAIDS-data_en.pdf (accessed 4 August 2021).
[9]   Information provided by national partners in Azerbaijan.
[10]    abc.az. Average size of unemployment benefit in Azerbaijan makes AZN 291.2. Baku; Fineko Agency, 25 January 2018. http://abc.az/ru/news/5337 (accessed 4 August 2021).