Are deputies forbidden to speak out?

Baku/26.04.23/Turan:  The Disciplinary Commission of Azerbaijan's parliament, the Milli Majlis, will consider the case of Deputy Vahid Akhmedov over an interview he gave to journalist Mehman Huseynov in which he criticized the government's activities and accused some deputies of engaging in business activities contrary to the law. Akhmedov's comments caused discontent among his colleagues, who attacked him with criticism, claiming that he had crossed a "red line" by speaking out to the media.

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. Previously, the parliament was unhappy with Deputy Erkin Gadirli for an interview he gave to the same journalist. These events have led to questions about whether deputies are prohibited from expressing their opinions to the media.

In an interview with the "Difficult Question" program, Hafiz Hasanov, a lawyer and chairman of the public association "Law and Development," stated that the demand to punish a colleague for an interview is fundamentally wrong. According to Article 91 of the Constitution, deputies of the Milli Majlis cannot be held accountable for their activities, voting, and statements in the parliament. Hasanov further stated that there is no legal basis for bringing Akhmedov to justice.

Hasanov also argued that Akhmedov's comments were in defense of the authorities, and there has never been a speech in support of the government made at such a high level. From an objective standpoint, Akhmedov's statements were quite normal, according to the lawyer.

The case of Vahid Akhmedov has raised concerns about freedom of speech in Azerbaijan and the ability of deputies to express their opinions without fear of retaliation. The outcome of the Disciplinary Commission's deliberations remains to be seen.--0--