Prostitutes forced to pay bribes to police

"Although prostitution is legal in Azerbaijan, it is a stigmatised occupation. Prostitutes are vulnerable to extortion by police and are compelled to pay bribes to avoid being forcibly (and illegally) subjected to medical examination. This is because they can be charged under the law with disseminating venereal disease. The police act beyond their authority, however, because the law stipulates that they can commence investigation only when a third party makes a complaint. Knowing that young stigmatised women are unlikely to challenge such action fuels their extortionist behaviour."

Source;Global Corruption Report 2007, p.124