Azerbaijani authorities accuse American NGO representative in corruption, the U.S. embassy denies accusations
Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan Zakir Garalov turned to the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar a day before, accusing Alex Grigorevsa, the representative of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Azerbaijan, in unlawful acts, the Azerbaijani news agency APA reports.
In particular, according to the agency, the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan stated that cash of approximately 2 million dollars were withdrawn from Alex Grigorevs’ bank account without noting a special-purpose.
News portal Haqqin.az reminds in this connection that it was Eynulla Fatullayev who was concerned by the purpose of withdrawing the cash amount of approximately 2 million dollars from the personal bank account of Alex Grigorevs. Fatullayev wrote about it in the article “2 million dollars on “Facebook revolution.”
The agency "APA", citing its own sources, reported that a telephone conversation between the head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was held, during which the question of the offices of NDI and OSCE was raised.
But later news agency "Turan" reported with reference to the U.S. Embassy that the information is not true. "The State Department and the private office of John Kerry deny information about the call", the U.S. Embassy press-service reports.
Commenting on the rise of such rumors, one of the former diplomats, who preferred to stay anonymous, told the news agency that such rumors probably are spread by the Azerbaijani authorities. "Official Baku wants to present the situation as if the U.S. is asking Baku not to close the OSCE and NDI offices. Baku on its turn showing "generosity", considers the interests of its partner and concedes,” said the former diplomat, adding that it "seems idiotic."
The "Turan" reports that the U.S. embassy has rejected accusations of the authorities of Azerbaijan against the NDI and its representative in Baku Alex Grigorevs.
"These accusations once again appeared in the letter of Zakir Garalov, Azerbaijani Prosecutor General, which was sent it to the Ambassador Richard Morningstar. This confidential letter, along with a printout of banking printouts once again appeared in pro-government media "accidentally". However, in the letter of Attorney General it was not quite clear who were given the money to and where the crime was, even he had given the money to someone?" the agency says.
"Turan" reminds that earlier, the head of the presidential administration, the true initiator of the campaign according to the agency, Ramiz Mehdiyev stated that if infringement of legality in the NDI is established, Azerbaijan will cease cooperation with NDI.
At the request of the news agency "Turan" the U.S. embassy stated: "We repeat that the NDI and its director work for the support of the civil society and democratic development of Azerbaijan."
"The government of Azerbaijan tends to limit the activities of Western NGOs in Azerbaijan during the presidential election year and try to limit their control not only over the election process, but over the pre-election situation too. However, official Baku is not intended to limit by the expulsion of international NGOs, but also to reduce the status of the OSCE Office till the status of project coordinator. Finishing with its civic society, the Azerbaijani authorities fell to international organizations", adds the agency.
In February 2013 Azerbaijani parliament adopted amendments tightening control over the use of grants and donations from NGOs, religious and other structures. According to the amendments penalties for absence of registration of contracts were seriously increased as well as benefits from foreign NGOs without the grant contract, etc. As "Turan" noted, that in reality it means a further tightening of many human rights and democratic NGOs in Azerbaijan. Many of these NGOs do not have state registration because of the refusal of the authorities. However, they receive grants from foreign donors. Now, the state bodies of Azerbaijan will refuse registration of grant agreements, referring to the fact that NGOs do not have state registration.