Members of public forum with the participation of more than 30 leading NGOs in the country called on the Azerbaijani Parliament not to adopt the proposed amendments to the legislation to toughen liability for breach of the financial reporting of public organizations.
On February 6 the parliamentary committee on legal policy approved amendments to the legislation establishing penalties from 500 to 15,000 manat for not providing information about the NGO grant agreement, receipt of donations and other aid without the grant agreements, and donations received in cash. The funds, which are objects of the offense, will be confiscated.
However, according to the participants of this forum, these measures will worsen the difficult situation of civil society.
The meeting was organized by the Azerbaijani branch of the Norwegian Human Rights House Foundation and the National Committee of the Forum "Eastern Partnership" in a project funded by the European Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.
The forum was also attended by a number of members of parliament, representatives of embassies and international organizations.
Head of the Center for Economic Research, Gubad Ibadoglu, said that the amendments is not necessary because the government, and so controls the activity of NGOs. Each NGO annually presents 19 reports to various authorities, and they are completely reflected them.
The author of the Bill, MP Chinghis Ganizade, claimed that the bill does not cause damage to the NGOs. According to him, the amendments are directed against some untidy mullahs who, in exchange for donations sell the land to various organizations. But the head of the Center to Support to Economic Initiatives, Azer Mehdiyev, pointed to unfounded large fines for NGOs in the amount of 5,000 -7,000 manat.
He was supported by Sahib Mammadov, the League of Labor Rights, pointing to the invalidity of heavy fines for donations of more than 200 manat. If someone donates 201 manat in favor of protection of wildlife, then the organization receiving donations should be penalized, he said.
The head of the NGO "Ecolex", Samir Isayev, said that violations of the financial statements of NGOs is only 1.5%, and therefore it is not necessary to tighten legislation.
Head of the Azerbaijani branch of the Norwegian Human Rights House Foundation, Shahla Ismail, stated increasing deterioration of NGOs in general human rights situation in the country.
The head of the CER Ibadoglu drew attention to the problem of not presenting premises to NGO for events. Thus, the forum was planned at the hotel "Park Inn", but at the last moment the leadership refused. Other hotels also refused to provide their conference rooms.
Following the discussions, it was decided to go to parliament with an appeal not to take reactionary amendments to the legislation. Previously 50 NGOs in the country also made a similar appeal. —03C06-
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