Azerbaijan has extended its special quarantine regime until October 1, 2026, citing the need to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate the potential consequences of the disease.
The decision was approved despite the fact that the World Health Organization declared the end of the COVID-19 global health emergency on May 5, 2023.
The special quarantine regime in Azerbaijan has been repeatedly extended, typically for periods of three months.
Restrictions on crossing Azerbaijan’s land borders remain in force under the quarantine regime.
An exception was made for passenger rail service on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route, which resumed on May 26. However, passengers have reported that tickets sell out quickly, the booking system experiences delays, and fares are relatively high.
Opposition representatives in Azerbaijan claim that maintaining the restrictions after the end of the pandemic is linked more to the government’s political and economic interests than to public health concerns.
Government officials, in turn, say the continued closure of land borders is primarily driven by security considerations.
