Azerbaijan.US
Azerbaijan continues to lag behind Georgia and Armenia in the public disclosure of budget information, according to a new regional study by the Baku Research Institute.
While Azerbaijan formally publishes its annual state budget, access to detailed data on how public funds are spent remains limited. In practice, the public is presented mainly with the final budget law, while breakdowns by programs, projects, and specific spending categories are largely unavailable.
By contrast, neighboring Georgia and Armenia provide far more comprehensive budget documentation. In both countries, parliaments publish detailed spending plans, including social programs, investment projects, and sectoral allocations, allowing for broader public scrutiny.
The study also highlights the role of legislatures. In Georgia and Armenia, parliaments serve as key sources of budget transparency. In Azerbaijan, however, the Milli Majlis plays a far more limited role in making budget information accessible to the public, the authors note.
Particular attention is drawn to Azerbaijan’s oil revenues. Despite oil and gas accounting for a significant share of state income, the use of these funds is presented in aggregated form, without detailed explanations that would allow citizens to track how the money is spent.
Researchers argue that the issue is not merely technical. Greater transparency, they say, is closely tied to public trust in economic governance. When citizens lack a clear understanding of how state resources are allocated, questions about accountability and fiscal priorities inevitably grow.
The report concludes that adopting regional best practices in budget transparency could strengthen public oversight and confidence in Azerbaijan’s fiscal policy.
