04 July 2009, 19:00
Papuashvili: Azerbaijani authorities jeopardize the work of NGOs
Simon Papuashvili, coordinator of the organization named "Human Rights Centre" and located in Tbilisi, is sure that adoption by the authorities of Azerbaijan of amendment to the Law on NGOs will make the work of these organizations in the country impossible.
"These amendments were drafted by a group of Azerbaijani MPs, who represent the President's party. They were not discussed either by the broad public, or those organizations, which can be touched by these amendments," said Mr Papuashvili.
According to the human rights activist, the bill on amendments was drafted, brought to parliament, put to the hearing, but none of human rights activists even knew about it.
"Our colleagues in Azerbaijan learnt about it just by chance; and they brought it to the knowledge of the public. Should the initial amendments have been adopted, it would have made the work of local NGOs impossible," Simon Papuashvili said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
As of today, the parliament of Azerbaijan has held only the first reading of the updated Law on NGOs. "The amendments aren't in force yet; no decisions have been made," Mr Papuashvili has noted.
Author: Dmitry Florin Source: CK correspondent
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