Democracy activists conducted an energetic campaign against the proposed changes
Azerbaijan’s civil society has won at least a temporary victory in blocking proposed amendments to the NGO and media laws that many feared would close political space and harden the Caspian state’s purportedly soft authoritarianism.
The final draft dropped controversial provisions that significantly impeded foreign funding, required NGOs to disclose members; personal details, and prescribed harsh punishments for non-compliance.
A diverse range of democracy, civil society and human rights groups mobilized against the provisions under the auspices of the Civil Society Defense Committee (CSDC). This film shows plainclothes police trying to break up a protest against the proposed NGO law on the part of democracy and civil society activists, including several grantees of the National Endowment for Democracy.
Following an energetic campaign against the proposed changes, concern about the country’s international image appears to have influenced the government’s decision to back down.
“The government understands that [passing the original NGO law] would isolate Azerbaijan from the international community,” said Rashid Hajili of the Media Rights Institute, a NED grantee.
But activists remain concerned at the regime’s authoritarian drift. Rachel Denber, deputy director of the Europe and Central Asia division of Human Rights Watch, welcomed the changes but cautioned against complacency.
“There are other things, though, to bear in mind. First, that this very restrictive draft was only one way, one element, that the government has used to crack down on NGOs, journalists, and other people and organizations in Azerbaijan who strive to have more transparency and to hold the government accountable,” Denber added.
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