The authorities tighten the freedom of gathering information under the guise of protection of privacy

Amended to toughen the Criminal Code for violation of privacy was submitted to the country's parliament. Such action provides criminal penalties. According to  parliamentary sources, the amendment also provides that the collection of "personal information" using drones will also be a violation of privacy. The amendment provides for punishment for public officials through abuse of office in the form of deprivation of the right to hold a managerial position or engage in certain activities from three years, or imprisonment up to two years.  It is not reported who  is the author of the amendment.

Currently, for the illegal collection of information about the private life, constituing a personal or family secrets, distribution, sale or transfer to others of documents, videos, photographs, audio recordings, reflecting this information, a penalty from 100 to 500 manats, or correctional labor up to one year .

In the pro-government media of this kind are widespread violations. Even more such incidents are taking place in social networks. Authorities often use similar methods against its political opponents. It is  enough to remember shooting the intimate life of the journalist Khadija Ismayilova and several opposition figures. However, for many years no one has been punished for such actions.

The proposed amendments are aimed at ensuring maximum restriction of the access to  the facts, evidencing corruption and violations of the rights of citizens by authorities. -02В-