In Azerbaijan, international forum states restrictions on NGOs

The two-day international conference, opened on December 10 in the Baku "Europe" Hotel, is on development of the civil society in Azerbaijan. Officers from power agencies are not taking part.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that the forum was organized by the World Movement for Democracy at the support of the US National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in cooperation with Azerbaijani Institute for Peace and Democracy and other civil society entities.

As reported by Intigam Aliev, head of the Society of Legal Enlightenment, despite the invitation, representatives of official state structures have refused to participate without any explanations.

Leila Alieva, head of the Centre for National and International Studies, has noted that the civil society should be proactive, not in defence. "We'd lobby progressive laws, not wait when the government still more worsens our opportunities," she said.

"No debates on the role of civil society in the issues of democracy and its interrelations with the government will ever be efficient, if these debates are not put live on TV," said Emin Guseinov, head of Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS). He has drawn attention to the fact that none of the Azerbaijani TV channels gave coverage of the conference.

"Azerbaijan faces serious problems with registration of NGOs, some of them have to wait for 5-7 years," said Alicja Derkovska, a member of the board of the World Movement for Democracy, according to whom "none of the world countries has anything of the sort."

Mohammed Guluzade, an expert of the International Centre of Non-Commercial Law (ICNCL), analyzed in his presentation the Azerbaijani legislation on NGOs. Among the deficiencies, he has pointed to the absence of tax privileges for the businesses, which support charities and NGOs. Besides, huge fines are envisioned for non-notification about grant contracts, reaching 2500 manats (about 3000 US dollars).

Anar Mamedli, head of the Centre for Monitoring Elections and Teaching Democracy (CMETD), said in his turn that the Ministry of Justice had rejected to register about 300 NGOs.

He ha also drawn attention of the audience to restrictions on NGO operation in the regions. "Not a single NGO can hold any actions in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. In many other regions, you also need to seek permit of local executive authorities," he has added.

No comments could be received at the Ministry of Justice on the criticism expressed at the conference on infringements of NGOs' rights. The Ministry's press service gave no answer to telephone calls.