New bill allows protests without permission
Holding public protests in Azerbaijan will no longer require
authorization from executive authorities, according to the
long-awaited changes and addenda proposed to the country's Law on
Freedom of Assembly, a senior lawmaker said.
A department head at the Milli Majlis, Latif Huseynov, said during discussions on the amendments in the parliamentary commission on human rights Thursday that from now on, the organization conducting rallies will be only required to inform the respective executive body in writing five days ahead of time. Such appeals must accurately indicate the venue and route of the planned protest. The notion of banning public protests is to be removed from national laws altogether. Freedom of assembly could be restricted only ahead of preparations for international events.
The draft law forwarded to the legislature envisions no restrictions on the age of convening persons. Bans on gathering in holy sites and cemeteries are to be removed as well.
The bill specifically indicates the venues where public protests may not take place. These include the area within 200 meters around the Milli Majlis (parliament) building, the President's Palace, the Supreme Court, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic's Supreme Majlis and Supreme Court, city and district executive authorities.
The draft law allows use of police force against rally participants but it must be adequate with the emerging threat.
Huseynov went on to say that foreign nationals living in Azerbaijan also reserved the right to hold public protests. A separate provision to that end was included in the draft law on a recommendation of the Council of Europe Venice Commission.
"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 suitable conditions for foreign countries' interference with Azerbaijan's internal affairs."
The electoral changes will be put on discussion in parliament on May 30.
A department head at the Milli Majlis, Latif Huseynov, said during discussions on the amendments in the parliamentary commission on human rights Thursday that from now on, the organization conducting rallies will be only required to inform the respective executive body in writing five days ahead of time. Such appeals must accurately indicate the venue and route of the planned protest. The notion of banning public protests is to be removed from national laws altogether. Freedom of assembly could be restricted only ahead of preparations for international events.
The draft law forwarded to the legislature envisions no restrictions on the age of convening persons. Bans on gathering in holy sites and cemeteries are to be removed as well.
The bill specifically indicates the venues where public protests may not take place. These include the area within 200 meters around the Milli Majlis (parliament) building, the President's Palace, the Supreme Court, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic's Supreme Majlis and Supreme Court, city and district executive authorities.
The draft law allows use of police force against rally participants but it must be adequate with the emerging threat.
Huseynov went on to say that foreign nationals living in Azerbaijan also reserved the right to hold public protests. A separate provision to that end was included in the draft law on a recommendation of the Council of Europe Venice Commission.
"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 suitable conditions for foreign countries' interference with Azerbaijan's internal affairs."
The electoral changes will be put on discussion in parliament on May 30.
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