Baku, June 16
AssA-Irada

The Council of Europe has said it is “very concerned” about some of the proposed changes to the legislation regulating non-governmental organizations in Azerbaijan.

“Amendments as proposed, which will be reportedly submitted for parliamentary decision this Friday, may create serious obstacles for the freedom of expression and normal functioning of the civil society in Azerbaijan,” three top CE officials warned in a statement. “They may even lead to the closing of the Council of Europe School of Political Studies in Baku.”

The statement was released by Samuel Zbogar, Slovenian Foreign Minister and Chairman-in-office of the CE Committee of Ministers, Lluis Maria de Puig, President of the CE Parliamentary Assembly and Terry Davis, Secretary General of the organization.

“We call on the authorities to postpone the decision on the proposed amendments. The Council of Europe is ready to provide assistance in order to ensure that any changes will be in line with the Council of Europe standards of democracy and human rights,” the statement suggested.

The amendments and addenda to the country’s Law on Non-governmental Organizations, to be tabled in the Milli Majlis (parliament), envision more financial accountability. Scores of local NGOs have vehemently opposed the measure and launched a large-scale campaign to counter them, on worries of having to undergo audits and issue transparent financial reports. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that, if over half of NGOs’ capital is formed on account of foreign donors, their operation will be halted; organizations failing to register with the state will not be allowed to operate; and opening a local representation by foreign NGOs will require an inter-governmental agreement between their home country and Azerbaijan.