OPPOSITION MUSAVAT RALLY BROKEN UP BY POLICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000687 SIPDIS FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KJUS AJ SUBJECT: OPPOSITION MUSAVAT RALLY BROKEN UP BY POLICE Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On July 11 a rally outside the Baku Mayor's Office organized by the Musavat Party was violently disrupted by the police. This rally was the first test of the GOAJ's implementation of its newly amended law on freedom of assembly. The continued inability of opposition parties to hold gatherings is likely to be a larger issue as the presidential campaign begins in August. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) On July 11 members of the Musavat Party, one of the largest opposition parties in Azerbaijan, attempted to hold a rally outside the Baku Mayor,s Office in order to protest recent changes to the Election Code. The organizers notified the Mayor,s Office of their intention to hold the rally five days prior to the planned event, as required by the newly amended law on freedom of assembly. According to the law, however, the Mayor,s Office may deny permission to hold a rally within 200 meters of certain government buildings, including city executive buildings. The Mayor,s Office therefore denied Musavat the right to hold this rally. Musavat declared publicly that they would hold the rally in spite of the lack of approval from the authorities. ¶3. (C) Therefore at noon on July 11 several dozen Musavat party members gathered outside the Mayor's Office. According to one international observer, the situation was confused at first, as it was unclear within the crowd who were the Musavat members and who were law enforcement. Eventually the Musavat members took banners out, and others in the crowd began to disperse them, eventually by forceful means. In the end, 13 people were arrested, of whom 12 were Musavat members and 1 was a passer-by who stopped to take pictures. Several Musavat members suffered minor injuries, and 2 Musavat members reported being beaten severely, although neither was hospitalized. COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) The recently amended law on freedom of assembly has received positive reviews from the international community on paper, but observers are waiting to see how it will be implemented by the GOAJ. This rally was the first test of this implementation. If opposition parties continue to have difficulties holding gatherings, it will certainly affect these parties, ability to conduct a presidential campaign. The official campaign period is set to begin August 1. DERSE