Human Rights Developments

Defending Human Rights

The Role of the International Community

Domestic nongovernmental organizations remained active throughout 2000, as demonstrated by their regular criminal reporting, especially with regard to the elections, and their dissemination of information. Eldar Ismailov, head of the domestic monitoring organization, For the Sake of Civil Society, protested the Law on NGOs that was adopted in July, for it barred his organization from monitoring the November 5 elections as it had in past elections.

The authorities responded by putting economic pressure on the protesting NGOs. Local utility charges were doubled, and organizations were required to pay these bills in a timely manner or be shut down-at a time when other organizations were not under the same constraints.