The position of civil society for about 5 years remains very difficult

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- Shahla-khanum, how do you assess the situation of civil society?

- For almost five years, the situation of civil society has been very difficult. In 2014, the legislation controlling the questions of registration, financing and activities of NGOs was changed, which put civil society in a very difficult position. Dozens of organizations have closed, hundreds of organizations have suspended their activities, thousands of specialists left the country. The educational programs implemented throughout the country have decreased by several times. Projects related to human rights, democracy, and good governance are reduced to zero. Civil society is not able to protect not only the rights of the nation, but even its own.

-In Azerbaijan, civil society has significantly weakened after total pressure against civil society and NGOs in 2013 As a result there were many arrests, the bank accounts of many members of civil society were frozen, a ban was imposed on their departure from the country, or they were subjected to border checks. As far as I know, you are monitoring the situation with civil society. And what is the situation? Are there still problems?

- Unfortunately, most of the problems still exist and continue to be quite deep. At first glance, the absence of arrests and active investigative actions create the impression of a change in a positive direction, but in reality the situation continues to be deplorable. Despite all the recommendations, registration of NGOs, their funding and activities continue to be limited. Civil society without free funding and activity is weakening each time, losing human resources, its infrastructure is falling apart, access to the audience is declining, its image is weakening. For several years, civil society was only engaged in self-defense, and therefore detached from the people, could not contribute to solving the problems of the population, so communication weakened. The public participation of civil society, which it so propagandized, was minimized. The powerful voice of civil society has disappeared, which is the herald of political, economic, and social themes. Forms of prosecution were different: the arrest of bank accounts, the investigation, the ban on leaving the country, checks at the border. Some of them, have been solved, but some still remain relevant. There is private, and not total approach to the solving problems. If somebody"s grants are registered secretly, this does not mean solving the problems of civil society. On the contrary, the selective approach deals a great blow to unity, solidarity. The already weak civil society has split even more. Mistrust was sown. This list can be continued because the persecution has given rise to serious consequences, and their elimination is more difficult than any legislative changes.

-This month, the deadline provided by the OGP to Azerbaijan ends. The most important of the OGP proposals was to improve the position of civil society. If problems still exist, what decision on Azerbaijan will the OGP take?

-There are still many problems. In accordance with the recommendations of the OGP, several superficial changes were made, but this is not enough for a fundamental change in the deplorable situation. There is no serious progress in registration, financing and activities. Social activity in the country has visibly decreased, organizations have closed, people left the NGO sector or the country in general. The situation has not changed for donors. Following the rules of December 4, 2015, no donor organization is registered in the country. Not only donors, but also embassies operating in the country, the offices of the EU and the UN cannot provide NGOs with grants directly, or have difficulties in this matter. The problems are extensive and deep. The OGP headquarters informed of this. Although the report submitted by the authorities is an attempt to convince of the presence of positive trends, the OGP has sources of alternative information. They are aware of a difficult situation. I believe that the decision of the OGP on Azerbaijan will be tough and negative, since the OGP last year already made concessions unprecedented in the history of this structure. I do not believe that this year will be given some deadlines for the implementation of the recommendations.

- This is the latest deadline provided by OGP. If the problems are not solved, this means that this organization will deprive Azerbaijan of membership. And what will happen? How will Azerbaijan"s withdrawal from OGP membership affect the position of civil society?

-Everything goes to the fact that the OGP will deprive Azerbaijan of membership, since the conditions put forward have not been met. However, in general, for Azerbaijan, especially for civil society, this decision will be too negative. This is another spot for the country. Azerbaijan has gained the image of a country that does not fulfill international obligations, does not provide opportunities for NGOs, media. OGP solution will be another confirmation of this image. For civil society, this decision will be a very difficult event, because the OGP is a force that finds solutions and indicates a way out to change the situation of civil society. This is a powerful platform with clear rules. An opportunity that has the tools to improve in countries of democracy and governance. Unfortunately, I involuntarily pronounce this in the past tense, as I am sure of a negative decision. Oh, if I were wrong. If Azerbaijan is deprived of membership, civil society will lose a strong lawyer, another partner will come down from the marathon, with whom the government considered. Unfortunately, some colleagues rejoice at these sanctions, but in reality there is nothing to rejoice at. This is a great shame and loss of great opportunities for our motherland.

- Responsible persons of the OGP Azerbaijan Platform claim that there have been numerous positive changes in civil society in Azerbaijan over the last year, what do you think about this?

- Now there are no those arrests and attacks that took place before 2014. The problems of some organizations have been solved privately. Some arrested bank accounts were opened, money was returned. Part of the projects are secretly registered. Some superficial changes to the law have been made, but this does not seriously change the picture. The consequences are very difficult - intractable lawyers and human rights activists have quieted down. It seems that civil society has reconciled with its fate, has left the country or has moved into another sector. There is practically no educational, monitoring, advocacy work. And the work being done is weak and retail. There is no stability and sustainability. In addition to a group of NGOs close to the authorities in the regions, it is almost impossible to meet with people, and to hold events as well. To talk openly about any problem is almost equal to the attempt. The rest of civil society deals with "soft" topics. Priorities are social and cultural themes. NGOs carry out free rites of circumcision, iftar, commemoration ... That is, the situation is comical ... This picture is too far from the mission of civil society. The increase in the number of this type of projects is presented as a revitalization. To implement the recommendations of the OGP in 2016, a platform was created, everyone gained hope, they believed in a serious dialogue. The leaders of the Platform did everything they could. We tried to do a lot of positive things, held events, made recommendations. However, no major changes were made to the essence of the issue, that is, there were no major changes in the laws on registration, financing and activities of NGOs.

- What measures should be taken to improve the situation of NGOs, civil society, their normal activities? What changes are needed in legislation, management?

- Of course, you first need to change the legislation - on NGOs, on grants, donations. We must return to the situation that existed before 2014. It is necessary to stimulate a large number of donors, NGOs, and this requires significant measures. Then it is necessary to solve a problem that lasts for years - to reduce the gap between civil society and the government. In order to build a bridge and increase confidence, various efforts are needed. The concept of NGOs should be revised. Non-governmental organizations should not be perceived as anti-government. There should be communication and an increase in the number of joint projects. For the prosperity of the country, an expert base of NGOs, their experience and efficiency should be used. At the forefront should be the national interests that unite the nation, it is necessary to declare an internal truce. Of course, to make it artificially impossible. This is impossible without the presence in the country of human rights, democracy, good governance, free media, fundamental reforms, advancement, since all these are links in one chain. The fact is that all that will happen sooner or later, it is inevitable. However, every lost day becomes the reason why thousands of bright people leave the country. And to reverse it is very difficult ...