The proposed changes will prevent people from exercising their right to freedom of association envisaged in Article 58 of the Republic of Azerbaijan’s Constitution, and right to freedom of assembly and association envisaged in Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, states Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) in their press release. IRFS calls on the international community not to turn a blind eye on the proposed anti-democratic changes, to support NGOs working in Azerbaijan to develop civil society and, if these proposed changes are accepted, to enact severe sanctions against the government of Azerbaijan for failing to fulfil the obligations to develop democracy that it is has undertaken. 

On June 8 the Amendments to the law “On NGO (Funds)” was sent from President’s Office to Azerbaijan’s parliament. Institute for Reporters´ Freedom and Safety considers the proposal of such changes that were prepared without the participation of civil society to be latest authoritarian step against civil society and declares that acceptance of these changes will negatively affect Azerbaijan’s already poor international image.

Appeal to the President
"The amendments are aimed at elimination of independent NGO in the country, and not allowing the development of civil society institutes in Azerbaijan,"  reads the statement from the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD). The head of IPD Leila Yunus, criticizes the amendment according to which NGO have to set branches in 1/3 of the country’s territories. Yunus believes that such norm can cause troubles in the activity of even “loyal” to authorities NGO.

Similar laws on NGO, Yunus reminds, were adopted in Belarus and Uzbekistan; now there are no independent NGO in these Republics, and activists of civil society either emigrated or work illegally. Leila Yunus appeals to the President to not sign the amaendments to the law.

Coalition formed
A number of NGOs of Azerbaijan decided to create a coalition for protection of civil society, and a working group consisting of seven people has been created. The group is preparing a plan of action regarding the plans of the authorities to restrict the activity of NGOs.  The coalition uniting 50 NGOs will appeal to the international community calling to prevent the adoption of dragon amendments to the law “On NGO.”

"In particular, we will call on CoE to suspend Azerbaijan’s right to vote  in these organizations," said the Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan’s society of Open Society Institute Zardusht Alizade to Turan Agency.   

Background information
According to Turan Agency, there was no law on NGO before 2001. In 2007, the Council for State Support of NGO was created. In 2008, 1,5 million AZN was allocated from the state budget for support of NGOs, and in 2009 – 2,067 million AZN have been allocated. Confirmation of the amendments at the session of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Republic is scheduled for June 19.

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