Foreign NGOs in Azerbaijan required to have national chiefs

The Azerbaijani parliament has obliged foreign nongovernmentalorganizations to appoint Azerbaijani citizens as deputy chiefs, including inbranch offices. 

Lawmakers adoptedamendments to the law on nongovernmental organizations on December 17.

Additionally, theamendments stipulate that, in case of closure, each foreign nongovernmentalorganization must provide full documentation to the Justice Ministry explaininghow and in what way the property of the closed organization is being used.

The amendments tothe Azerbaijani law are reminscent of a restrictive law adopted a year ago inRussia that requires any NGO receiving foreign funding and engaging in"political activities" to register as a "foreign agent."

ANN.Az