Laws on NGOs will be toughened

 A number of bills relating to the activities of civil society institutions were introduced  on the agenda of the meeting of the Milli Majlis  on December 17.

In particular, it amendments will be made to the laws "On State Registration and State Register of Legal Entities," "On NGOs, Associations and Foundations," "On Grants", the Code of Administrative Violations.

These innovations, as experts note, are restrictive for civil society. So, along with information about the founders of NGOs, there  should be the registry data to inform also about the members of the organization.

According to the expert in the field of media law, Alaskar Mammadov, such innovation strengthens state control over NGOs. Information about the members of NGOs can be used to put pressure on activists.

On the other hand, it increases the routine, bureaucratic delay and work with notice of changes to the registry particulars may be large fines. The Head of the NGO "Law and Development", Hafiz Hasanov, also critically assesses the proposed innovations. According to him, the NGO will be required every 90 days to inform about their registry data, including members of the organization.

"The reporting of members of the organization is not necessary to provide enough information about the founders," said Hasanov .

According to him, this amendment was to betaken  in summer of 2009 in a package with other changes in the law. Then civil society strongly opposed the reactionary changes, and many of them have not been adopted. However, later the authorities changed their tactics and began to tighten laws not once, but gradually.

Another amendment would oblige the parties to inform the legal address of its headquarters. Parties who do not have headquarters, could be  deprived of state registration or refusal.—06В-