What does Azerbaijan lose by withdrawing from the Open Government Partnership?

Azerbaijan was finally excluded from the Open Government Partnership (OGP), which was the culmination of a multi-year period during which OGP maintained the status of an inactive member of the country due to concerns about failures and limitations of civil society.

Since 2016, OGP has kept Azerbaijan's membership inactive, mainly due to restrictions imposed on civil society within the country. The organization has repeatedly called on the Azerbaijani government to develop a plan to mitigate these restrictions. OGP warned that Azerbaijan will be removed from the platform if it fails to demonstrate progress in the field of civil society.

On August 17, OGP published its decision, expressing deep disappointment at Azerbaijan's inability to fulfill the conditions necessary to remain part of the partnership, as well as the difficult situation for civil society.

Currently, representatives of the Azerbaijani government have not presented an official position on this issue. However, officials usually claim that the State protects fundamental freedoms and supports the development of civil society.

Fazil Mustafa, a member of the Milli Majlis Human Rights Committee, highlighted the disadvantages of severing ties with international organizations such as OGP. Recognizing that the exclusion of Azerbaijan from such platforms is unprofitable, he stressed the importance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the domestic policy of the country. Mustafa stressed that maintaining ties with international organizations is crucial.

Mustafa told Turan that there are different points of view on this issue. He stated that it is necessary to develop a consistent strategy regarding Azerbaijan's relations with the European space. He advocated a constructive discourse on whether a nation should distance itself or continue integration and reconsider its approaches. According to Mustafa, the latter way is more pragmatic.

Bashir Suleymanli, head of the Institute of Civil Rights, recalled the origin of the process of excluding Azerbaijan from the OGP in 2014. This initiative was put forward after the closure of several NGOs and the tightening of legislative norms. Suleymanli told Radio Azadlig that over the years Azerbaijan has been given many opportunities to liberalize legislation on NGOs and normalize the activities of civil society, but the government has not taken any action.

Suleymanli explained the final exclusion of Azerbaijan from the OGP by the aggravation of human rights problems within the country. It is noteworthy that the recent arrests of public and political figures have increased concern and exacerbated the situation, serving as a turning point.

Suleymanli also argued that this exclusion entails negative consequences. OGP functions as a platform that advocates for open governance, transparency and anti-corruption measures. He stressed that participation in OGP can bring dividends, such as improved investment prospects and access to loans in the future.

According to the "Article 54" public union's perspective, Azerbaijan joined the organization voluntarily in 2011 and developed three action plans spanning various sectors such as Social Services, Open Data, and budget transparency.

The Open Government Partnership, a global entity encompassing over 70 countries and more than 100 local governments, collaborates with numerous civil society organizations to foster transparent, inclusive, and accountable governance.

While Azerbaijan's government appealed for the renewal of its membership after a temporary suspension, the OGP remained steadfast in its position, conditioned on the reestablishment of a conducive environment for civil society. Despite subsequent National Action Plans and legislative amendments, Azerbaijan's compliance remained incomplete and cosmetic in nature, according to Article 54.

Article 54 called for introspection within the government, urging systematic administrative reforms based on local and international obligations to foster effective and equitable decision-making.

Ultimately, the OGP's decision to remove Azerbaijan from its ranks was driven by concerns over the nation's persistent lack of concrete measures to establish open, inclusive, and accountable governance.