AZE.US
Former Azerbaijani Finance Minister Fikret Yusifov has criticized the performance of government agencies, arguing that poorly designed regulations and bureaucratic failures are fueling public dissatisfaction and damaging trust in the state.
Yusifov made the remarks during an interview with the YouTube channel Prime Time Azerbaijan.
He said Azerbaijan has adopted numerous state programs covering tourism, agriculture, regional development and the non-oil economy, but their results ultimately depend on the officials responsible for implementation.
“If Azerbaijan cannot reach a level by 2030 where it can compete with Georgia and Armenia in tourism, then the officials responsible for this sector are not doing their jobs,” Yusifov said.
“Problems Must Be Addressed Systemically”
Discussing agriculture, Yusifov said government agencies often intervene only after an individual farmer’s problems attract public attention.
Helping one producer may resolve a particular case, he said, but it does not eliminate the systemic obstacles facing the entire agricultural sector.
Yusifov urged government bodies to hold open meetings with farmers and entrepreneurs who work directly in the industry. He said participants should be allowed to describe their problems freely rather than being selected based on their proximity to local officials.
“If you want to understand the reality and correctly diagnose the sector’s problems, bring together the people who actually work there and listen to them,” he said.
Yusifov cited complaints from seed producers who lease agricultural land, pay rent and meet their tax obligations but allegedly face restrictions on their bank accounts because of unresolved registration issues involving the landowners.
Such measures, he argued, fail to account for the seasonal nature of agriculture. Farmers must prepare the soil, purchase seeds and begin planting at specific times, but frozen accounts can prevent them from carrying out that work.
Investors Lack Sufficient Guarantees
Yusifov identified weak business protections as one of Azerbaijan’s most serious economic problems.
He acknowledged that the government has invested heavily in regional infrastructure, including roads, electricity, natural gas and water supplies. However, he said infrastructure alone is not enough to attract private investment.
Domestic and foreign investors also need guarantees of fair competition, effective judicial protection and freedom from improper interference by officials, he said.
“Azerbaijan has laws and regulations, and it has adopted a good Competition Code, but it is not functioning as it should. Monopolies continue to dictate conditions,” Yusifov said.
According to him, investors remain reluctant to enter the Azerbaijani market because they are unsure whether courts will protect their rights or whether officials will interfere in their businesses.
“Look at the statistics showing how much investment enters Azerbaijan and how much leaves. There is no confidence that money invested here will be protected,” he said.
Insurance Premium Rose From 95 to 375 Manats
Yusifov also described his personal experience with Azerbaijan’s compulsory automobile insurance system.
He said his annual premium had gradually fallen to 95 manats, about $56, because of his long accident-free driving record. After his son was involved in an accident while driving the vehicle, however, the next premium reportedly increased to 375 manats, approximately $221.
Yusifov said the base premium was 125 manats, or about $74, and claimed the increase effectively amounted to a 300% charge.
He argued that the system unfairly penalized him despite his own driving record.
“I have driven for 52 years without causing an accident, yet because another driver had an accident in my vehicle, my compulsory insurance premium was increased by 300%,” he said.
Yusifov also claimed that if the premium declined by only 5% annually, it could take more than two decades to return to its base level.
He described the rule as unreasonable and said regulations that improve a citizen’s legal position should be applied in accordance with constitutional principles.
Fine Issued Despite Missing Road Markings
The former minister also recounted receiving a traffic fine after resurfacing work had removed the road markings near a traffic light.
According to Yusifov, fresh asphalt had been laid, but the stop line and pedestrian crossing markings had not yet been restored. Nevertheless, a traffic camera remained active and issued him a fine of 40 manats, about $24.
He argued that enforcement cameras should be temporarily disabled when required road markings are absent because of construction.
“If the road has been resurfaced and the stop line has not yet been restored, how can drivers be fined for crossing a line that does not exist?” he asked.
Yusifov also criticized penalties imposed on taxi drivers and motorists who briefly stop to pick up or drop off passengers in areas without suitable stopping zones.
He referred to a case near the Ganjlik metro station in which a driver allegedly received a 100-manat fine, about $59, and three penalty points after stopping for several seconds to pick up an elderly passenger.
Agencies Shift Responsibility
Yusifov said inadequate coordination between state bodies creates additional problems for residents.
He described roadwork near his home where approximately 200 meters of asphalt was reportedly removed during the installation of utility infrastructure. After the work was completed, he said, government bodies and contractors shifted responsibility for restoring the road.
“One agency installs the utilities, another handles the markings, another installs the cameras, and someone else issues the fines. In the end, no one accepts responsibility for the final result,” he said.
Yusifov called for a unified accountability mechanism under which a clearly identified body would oversee the entire process—from authorizing construction to restoring the road and ensuring it is safe for public use.
“Officials’ Mistakes Damage the Government’s Image”
Yusifov stressed that the issue extends beyond individual fines, insurance premiums or damaged roads.
In his view, every unreasonable decision attributed to a government institution affects the public’s perception of the entire state.
“An official’s mistake, negligence or thoughtless decision ultimately damages the image of the president and the government,” Yusifov said. “Public administration should be organized in a way that improves citizens’ lives instead of creating new sources of dissatisfaction.”
The former minister said Azerbaijan’s foreign policy and postwar reconstruction achievements should be matched by improvements in domestic governance, competition, investment protection and the everyday relationship between citizens and government institutions.
AZE.US