Prosecutor"s Office banns the head of the Election Monitoring and Democratic Studies Center (EMDS) to leave Azerbaijan

Investigation Department  for Serious Crimes  of the  General Prosecutor’s Office banned  the head of the Election Monitoring and Democratic Studies Center (EMDS), Anar Mammadov, to leave the country  due to the investigation  of the activities of the NGOs, Turan was told  by Mammadov.

Despite the investigation began a month ago, the  ban on travel was introduced on the eve of Mammadov’s trip to Vilnius EU summit of "Eastern Partnership ".

During the forum the meeting  of  civil society activists  of the participating countries was planned. 

More than 10 representatives of Azerbaijani NGOs from the National Platform of the Civil Society Forum have been invited Vilnius summit. Mammedli trip was  planned two months ago, and two weeks ago he informed the prosecutor's office.

The prosecutors were interested  in purposes of Mammadov’s  participation in the event. "Today I was called  and said that I can not leave the country, and this ban will be in effect until the investigation is completed," he told Turan.

" A month has passed  since the beginning of investigation. During this period, there were  investigative measures restricting freedom of expression, association and assembly  of the  EMDS members. Now  they restrict freedom of movement too," said Mammadov.

A month ago, prosecutors seized all documents and two computers to investigate the activities  the EMDS, accusing  the NGOs  of tax evasion, abuse of office and illegal business. –06D--