ASSA-Irada,
15, May 2008

Foreign nationals living in Azerbaijan reserve the right to hold public protests, just like the country's citizens, a department head at the Milli Majlis (parliament) says.

Latif Huseynov said during discussions on amendments to the Law on Freedom of Assembly in the parliamentary commission on human rights Thursday that the bill forwarded to the legislature contains a separate provision to that end. It was included in the draft law on a recommendation of the Council of Europe Venice Commission and is in line with international law.

"By granting this right to foreign citizens, Azerbaijan gets ahead of numerous European countries," Huseynov said.

Chairman of pro-government Ana Vatan party, MP Fazayil Aghamali, opposed the measure. "This provision of the law could create conditions for foreign countries' interference with Azerbaijan's internal affairs."

But head of the Milli Majlis (parliament) Office Safa Mirzayev said there were no grounds for concern.

"As society develops, the need arises to amend laws. We should not be afraid of granting equal rights to our own and foreign citizens," he said.

AZERBAIJAN PARLIAMENT COMMENCES DISCUSSIONS ON AMENDMENTS TO ELECTORAL CODE AND LAW ON FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY