Azerbaijan human rights activists on lack of freedom of assembly in republic

We call your attention to the statement by the human rights department of the Institute of Peace and Democracy:

Article 49 "Freedom of Assembly" of the Constitution has been suspended in the republic in fact after the presidential election of 15 October 2003 and the clashes between demonstrators and the police that followed the election on 15 and 16 October. Despite the clearly defined constitutional right of citizens "to hold meetings, demonstrations and pickets, notifying (Leyla Yunus' note: only notifying but not asking for permission) corresponding state structures beforehand," the Baku executive authorities have not once authorized the holding of pickets, thought they have received numerous applications from political parties, media and non-government organizations. The pickets that have not been authorized by the executive authorities but held in full conformity with Article 49 of the Constitution have been dispersed by the police with the use of brute physical strength. The picket of Khurriyet newspaper contributors in front of the prosecutor's office on 11 February 2004 was dispersed by the police like the previous ones. 4 Khurriyet contributors - editor-in-chief Vugar Mamedov, deputy editor-in-chief Sarkarda Sarkhan, and journalists Eldaniz Gasanov and Anar Gasanly - were conveyed to court. Two of them were fined and the other two were given a warning. The practice of unauthorized pickets will to all appearances continue. Hence the confrontation will continue and tension in the society will remain. It can be and should be avoided, with the law and Constitution being observed.

Editors note: See also the article "Baku police disperse unauthorized picket of opposition".