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The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe has published a report on changes made in the legislation on NGOs in Azerbaijan. The report notes that independent NGOs involved in human rights in recent years are repressed and their situation has worsened. The report is published on the website of the Commission.

The report states that on September 29 the Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has asked the Commission to make a conclusion on the adopted amendments, however, the delegation was unable to visit Azerbaijan in order to get acquainted with the situation in spite the pre-sent appeal to the authorities of the country.

On October 15 the Secretariat sent a message to the authorities to accept and assist the delegation, but an invitation from the official Baku has not been received. For this reason, the visit did not take place. Thus, the President approved the changes, without seeking the opinion of the VC, the report notes.

The report also reads that in Azerbaijan there are 2700 registered and about 1 million unregistered NGOs.

VC recalls that CoE Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muzhnieks has also spoken about the deteriorating situation for NGOs in the country in light of tightening of legislation.

"The authorities have ignored all previous VC recommendations regarding NGO legislation. Moreover, representative offices of foreign NGOs working in the country have been subjected to pressure," the document reads.

As noted in the report, such restrictions have continuously had a negative impact on civil society, and especially those involved in human rights and democracy.

According to the document, VC considers the adopted restrictions on branches and representative offices of foreign NGOs wrong, and considers it necessary to simplify the procedure for registration of local NGOs to cancel adopted so far restrictive amendments.

"It is also necessary to reconsider the amendments restricting the funding of NGOs by foreign donors. The interference in the internal structure and functions of NGOs is unacceptable," the document reads.