Azeri Parliament approves tougher penalties for insulting authorities on Internet

On November 29, the National Assembly of Azerbaijan adopted draft amendments to the Criminal Code, providing for tougher penalties for insulting the President and liability for slander on the Internet. Civil society activists believe that the amendments are directed against those who criticize the authorities.

"Tightening of liability for defamation contradicts the Constitution of the country, the laws in the field of human rights and freedoms, international agreements signed by Azerbaijan, including the European Convention on Human Rights, and the case law of the European Court," claims the statement of the public association "Civil Society Platform"(CSP), which includes about 30 activists, experts, journalists, and human rights defenders. The statement was released on November 28.

"Unfortunately, the Parliament did not listen to the position of the civil society. However, there is still a chance to stop the process. The Azerbaijani President has the power to veto the amendments to the Criminal Code, and the CSP will likely ask him about that," the "Caucasian Knot" was told by Rovshan Gadjibeili, a member of the "Civil Society Platform ", the head of the NGO "School of Democratic Journalism".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.