Azerbaijan, Baku, April 22 / Trend T. Hajiyev /
Azerbaijan has created every condition for freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of press, the head of the department on social and political issues of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov said in an interview with Trend. He was commenting on the opinions of some international organizations about the violations of the right to freedom of assembly in Azerbaijan.
"These statements are groudless," Hasanov said. "Freedom of assembly, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and press, information activity are the constitutional norms of Azerbaijan. All the necessary conditions have been created for the activity of these institutions. It is an integral part of the Azerbaijan's democratic state-building".
Hasanov said sometimes international organizations make these conclusions based on information provided by different sources, without understanding their essence.
"If it is assumed that the unauthorized rallies are prevented, it is true. This will be so in the future," Hasanov stressed. "Azerbaijan is a legal state. The legal norms are above all here. Azerbaijan creates conditions for the authorized rallies where the safety of participants is ensured. The unsanctioned rallies were suppressed. They are suppressed now and will be suppressed in the future. So, international organizations must not act with specific appeals to us. But if these fundamental rights are really limited, then, we are ready to discuss this issue with them."
Hasanov said Azerbaijan has always created and will create conditions for holding such rallies at designated sites and places not disturbing the work of urban transport, movement of residents of the city and harmony of dynamic city life.
Hasanov thinks some opposition parties have recently become active due to the influence of the ongoing developments in some countries, rather than the needs of the society or a social order.
"In fact, they know today Azerbaijan has no social support, orders and forces, supporting them in serious anti-government rallies, coups or coming to power by other ways," he said.
"They just do this under the influence of the ongoing processes in some countries, which finally results in their defeat. And this should be so."