Seminar held in Baku for detection procedures on marriages of convenience and eradication of these cases

Jointly organized by the State Migration Service(SMS) and European Union(EU), the seminar on “applied legislation for detection procedures on marriages of convenience and eradication of these cases” launched on April,6.

At the seminar, Chief of Migration Policy and Legal Support Head Department of the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan Republic, III rank state migration service counselor Vahid Gahramanov informed the audience about substantial measures taken by the government of Azerbaijan both in the legislation and in its application for the purpose of improving migration management mechanisms, managing and regulating migration processes. He noted that as a reflection of achievements in domestic and foreign policy executed by the President Ilham Aliyev, all rights and liberties- freedom of movement, freedom to choose a residential locations, access to education, engagement in labor activity, act as a shareholder and entrepreneur, personal immunity, property immunity, leisure, protection of health, freedom of conscience of foreigners have been utterly provided in Azerbaijan.  

At the event, it was mentioned that, in accordance with the migration legislation of Azerbaijan, registration of foreigners and stateless persons upon a place of stay, grounds and periods of residence on the territory of the country, as well as application of other relevant norms have been facilitated. For instance,  persons married with the citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan, submitted application for obtaining refugee status, obtained refugee status or granted political asylum, as well as persons having in their custody citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan who are under 18 years old or I group disabled persons  are not required to obtain a work permit. As an exceptional case, issuance of temporary and permanent residence permits on the territory of the country to foreigners and stateless persons who are carriers of dangerous infectious virus diseases and married to the citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan have been reflected in the Migration Code. It was noted that, all of these are derived from the value given to human essence, marriage and family relations by the government of Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, sometimes information related to marriage of convenience of persons who want to take advantage of these benefits is received. 

Regulation of migration processes by the Service, fight against illegal migration and results achieved in this sphere has been also discussed at the seminar.

Speaking on behalf of European Union Delegation in Azerbaijan,  Program Manager Alessandro Budai wished success in the work of the seminar.

It’s worth to mention that experts from Belgium, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Lithuania and the United Kingdom, as well as a number of governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations have participated in the seminar. 

Following the opening ceremony, cooperation relations with Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument (TAIEX) in the field of migration and asylum policy in Azerbaijan, the existing situation in Azerbaijan with regard to marriage of convenience and expectations from the workshop have been discussed.

Reports were presented on “the current situation in the European Union: guidelines for the detection of marriage of convenience between EU citizens and citizens of other countries within the context of EU legislation on free movement of EU citizens”, “abuse of the family reunification rights: marriage of convenience in EU member states.”

Approaches to these issues within the European and international law context, speeches on the marriage of convenience within the framework of Belgian, Slovak and Lithuanian national legislation was welcomed by the participants.

The workshop will end tomorrow.