Azerbaijan, Baku, 14 July / corr. Trend E.Babayev / The ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) does not accept the statement of political parties on restriction of the right of 'Freedom of Assembly' in the country.
"Such statements do not coincide with the reality of Azerbaijan. All social and political organizations can use the right of 'Freedom of Assembly' within the framework of norms, described in the Law," Ali Ahmedov, deputy chairman and executive secretary of the NAP, told Trend on 14 July.
The Azerbaijani opposition asserts that the right of freedom of assembly is being restricted in the country. The oppositional Musavat party held demonstration with the demand of ensuring the right of freedom of assembly in front of the Baku City Administration on 12 July. At the same time, the party filed a suit on the Baku City Administration at the court.
Ahmedov said that some political forces of Azerbaijan wished to form an opinion on restriction of the right of freedom of assembly, though it counteracts the reality and intended to damage the image of Azerbaijani. "Roughly violating the Law on 'Freedom of Assembly', some oppositional parties try to hold demonstrations and actions to achieve their objective. When these attempts are stopped legally, they create fuss, as if the right of freedom of assembly was restricted in Azerbaijan," Ahmedov said, urging that such opposition statements had reasons. He said that opposition does not have enough human resources to hold actions within the framework of the Law. Therefore, they are interested in hiding shortages of these resources roughly violating the Law and attempting to rally.
Heydar Aliyev, the chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakchivan, established the NAP in 1992. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is the current chairman of the ruling party, which has been in power for 15 years.
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