22:30, 19 June 2009

In Azerbaijan, police stops picket of opponents to amendments in the law on NGOs

Over 100 activists of the civil society of Azerbaijan have rallied together today at midday for holding an action near the parliament against the would-be amendments to the Law "On Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)"; however, they were stopped by the police some 300 meters off the building of the National Assembly. Nobody was detained.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that despite appeals of the police to disperse, NGO activists refused and started shouting out slogans with a demand to ensure the freedom of speech, assemblies and associations. Then, economist Gubad Ibadoglu, head of the Centre for Economic Studies, read out the resolution of the picket, which, in particular, spoke about "a real threat to the civil society should amendments be adopted".

After negotiations with the police, Mr Ibadoglu was let to the building of the parliament. "I've passed our resolution over to the employees of the general division of the parliament. They said that the leaders of the parliament had promised to consider the appeal of the civil society," Ibadoglu then said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent