Azerbaijan, Baku, April 9 /Trend E. Mehdiyev/
Baku positively assesses the joint, sanctioned and coordinated rally held by the opposition on Sunday.
"We appreciate the joint, sanctioned and coordinated rally held by the opposition," Head of Department on Social Political Issues of Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov told Trend today.
"The Azerbaijani opposition has finally shown its will to hold rallies coordinated with Baku's executive power, in designated places in accordance with the law," he stressed.
"Azerbaijani authorities think the opposition will continue to hold rallies and meetings in accordance with the law and in coordinated and specially designated areas," he said.
"As far as the general political assessment of the rally is concerned, then it is of course freedom of speech, media and press in Azerbaijan, right for freedom of assembly and freedom for expressing dissatisfaction," he stressed.
"Unfortunately, earlier some people inside and outside of Azerbaijan have speculatively disseminated the statements about the limitation of the right to freedom of assembly in Azerbaijan. This indicates that when rallies in Azerbaijan are held within the frames and are coordinated with law and Baku's executive power, there are no attempts made to restrain the right for freedom of assembly," Hasanov said.
He added that this also shows that Azerbaijan is a democratic country where people can gather freely.
"Any journalist could freely collect and disseminate any information at yesterday's meeting. Thus, freedom of speech and freedom of the press do exist in Azerbaijan," he stressed.
Hasanov noted that resentments against some state bodies, as well as different opinions were expressed at the rally.
"We perceive it normally. This is a sign that there is a pluralism of opinions in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani society. Generally, we accept it," he said.
"We believe that we've come to a conclusion that the opposition must hold its rallies in accordance with the law, while the government must ensure the legitimate demands of the opposition in accordance with the freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and opinions."
"We think that we have come to the conclusion that the opposition must hold its rallies in accordance with the law. The government must ensure the legitimate demands of the opposition in accordance with the freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and opinions," Hasanov underscored.
The so-called Public Chamber held a rally coordinated with Baku's Executive Power in the courtyard of the building, at the 20th section of the Bibiheybat settlement on April 8.
According to the official statistics, about 1,200 Public Chamber representatives and supporters included in the Public Chamber, as well as members of other opposition parties, NGOs and youth organizations attended the rally.