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
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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