Article 16. Usage of assets owned by the state, public organizations or citizens

Religious organizations have the right to use the premises and the assets for their needs assigned to them by the state, public organizations or citizens under agreement.

State-owned buildings of cult designation and other assets may be transferred to religious associations for gratis usage.

Religious organizations shall have priority rights in getting a grant of premises of religious assignation with the surrounding territory.

Decisions of transferring buildings, cult subjects and property to religious associations shall be made no later than within one month since the date of receipt of corresponding request, of which the applicant is notified in written form.

Religious organizations shall use lands in accordance with the Land Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Article 17. Assignment and utilization of properties representing historical and cultural monuments

Buildings, as well as thing representing monuments of history and culture may be transferred, according to law, to religious associations and be used by them.

Privatization of monuments of state property representing religious history and culture and public circulation of religious assigned cultural heritage included in the State List of national cultural property of the Republic of Azerbaijan is not permitted.

Article 18. Property of religious organizations

Buildings cult articles, production facilities, public and charitable designation, monetary assets and other properties necessary to ensure activities of religious associations may be in their properties.

Religious organizations have the ownership right over the assets acquired or created at their own expense, sacrificed by citizens, organizations or transferred by the state, as well as acquired according to other reasons stipulated by the law.

Religious organizations may also own properties situated in abroad.

Religious organizations have the right to ask for voluntary donations and also receive these donations, including donations in cash or through a bank, post office, plastic card, electronic payment systems or the Internet can accept. The procedure for accepting donated funds by religious organizations is determined by the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority. A religious organization may not directly or indirectly provide any material or other benefits, privileges or concessions to a donor or any other person in exchange for an accepted or promised donation, as well as make such an offer or promise. A person making a donation to a religious organization is not entitled to demand or accept any material or other benefits, privileges or concessions for himself or third parties in exchange for donations made or to be made, and also cannot agree with such an offer or promise.

The funds of religious centers and departments are established by financing acquired in accordance with requirements of this Law, as well as by voluntary contributions of legal and natural entities, religious associations and places of pilgrimage.

State and regional self-government authorities can support financial aid to religious associations.

Property right of religious associations is protected by law.

Note: In this article, “donation” means assistance provided to a religious organization in the form of money and (or) in other material form without the obligation to achieve any goal.

Article 19. Industrial and economic activities of religious organizations

Religious organizations in accordance with legislation and their respective Charters have the right to establish publishing and printing houses, production, restoration and building facilities with the status of legal entity, orphanages, boarding-schools, hospitals and so on.

Article 20. Order about the assets of terminated religious associations

The assets assigned by the state, public organizations or individual citizens for utilization by religious associations without agreements shall be returned to their owners after termination of their operation.

Under cessation of activity of a religious association, the property it owned shall be disposed in accordance with the association’s charter and existing legislation.

Creditors have no right to claim for property of cult designation owned by a religious association.

In the event of absence of legal successors, the property shall pass to the state.