Law on Culture (No.506-IVQ of 21 December 2012) pays much attention to cultural heritage in general and its areas: immovable, movable, intangible cultural heritage, including historical and cultural monuments, cultural property, national cultural archives, underwater cultural heritage, national culinary examples, commitments to the protection of national cultural heritage and cultural values, mode of use of cultural objects, protected cultural treasures, export of cultural values, etcetera, outlined in relevant chapters.
The Law on the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments (No.470-IQ of April 10, 1998) defines the issues, specifies the responsibilities of state and local authorities, and lays down principles for the use, study, conservation, restoration, reconstruction, renovation and safety of historical and cultural monuments. The scope of the law encompasses archaeological and architectural objects, ethnographic, numismatic, epigraphic, and anthropological materials, as well as buildings, monuments, items related to historical events and personalities, and values associated with the people’s religious beliefs. Furthermore, the law states that privatising state-owned monuments of the world or national importance is prohibited.
The Law on the National Archive Fund (No. 694-IQ of June 22, 1999) regulates the preservation and use of national archives, determines the ownership status of state and non-state archives and documents, and establishes the legal basis for managing this immense intellectual resource.
Law on Museums (No.839-IQ of March 24, 2000) regulates relations between museums and the state, defines the duties, functions, privileges and powers of both sides, lays down detailed rules on museum activity, promotes the protection, conservation, development and enrichment of museum collections, and improves the social security position of museum workers.
Law on Specially Protected Natural Areas and Objects (No.840-IQ dated March 24, 2000) declares that specially protected natural areas and objects are the national wealth of the Republic of Azerbaijan and possess exceptional ecological, scientific, cultural, and aesthetic value. It refers to state nature reserves (including biosphere reserves), national parks, nature reserves, ecological parks, zoological parks, geological parks, dendrological parks, natural monuments, botanical gardens, health resorts, and other similar protected areas. This law establishes the legal basis for the organisation and protection of specially protected natural areas within the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the protection of specially protected natural objects.
The Cabinet of Ministers also approved the necessary rules and guides in this domain:
- Rules of Import, Export and Transit of Cultural Values Through the Territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan (No.294 of August 29, 2014),
- Rules of Temporary Export of Cultural Values in Connection with Exhibitions, Tours, Restoration Works, Presentations, Carrying out of International Cultural Actions (No.293 of August 29, 2014),
- Rules for the Protection, Restoration and Use of Cultural Heritage in the Republic of Azerbaijan (No.266 of 14 July 2015), and
- Provided Guarantees to the Owners of National Cultural Heritage Objects to Ensure their Protection (No.28 of February 3, 2016), and so forth.
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