Accusation by the Government of Azerbaijan's against the American organization IREX (the International Council for the Humanities Research and Exchanges) are surprising. At the same time, the organization hopes to regain its activity, the deputy director of IREX Leon Morse said in an interview with the Azerbaijani service of "Voice of America".
In late July were frozen accounts IREX, in September their equipment was confiscated, and in early October, the organization announced the termination of its activity in Azerbaijan. "We were surprised at the beginning of the investigation without notice and explain the reasons. When we were told that the investigation is carried out on the payment of taxes, we did not understand what they mean. Since we possess the status are exempt from taxes.
Irex, located in Washington, receives funds from the government through USAID the United States, and sends them to the program in Azerbaijan in accordance with the requirements of the legislation.
According to the agreement signed a few years ago with the government of Azerbaijan, we were exempted from taxes. We thought that there was some kind of misunderstanding, but then we realized that Azerbaijan and the United States have different views on this issue, " said Morse.
"In the United States the civil sector is supported by citizens and corporations. In Azerbaijan, the civil society is not support. Now it is deprived of the support of international organizations. This means narrowing of the field of activity," continued Morse.
Other foreign NGOs also faced problems, and that may change the mind about the commitment of Azerbaijan to European family, and do harm to the work that has been done so far.
Morse noted that IREX continues to work even in the Russian Federation, which has currently tense relations with the United States. Until now, IREX was banned only in Belarus and Uzbekistan.
According to him, the formal charges have not been presented to IREX. According to unofficial data, IREX is charged with training and assistance to the opposition press. "We are working with objective and independent media, and do not cooperate with not independent and biased media,"- he said.-06D-
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