Azerbaijan passes new law against illegal demonstrations

The Azerbaijani Parliament on Friday passed an amendment to a the country's law concerning demonstrations. According to the amendment, the fine for organizing a meeting without the authorities' permission will be increased several times.

From now on organizers of such demonstrations will be punished with an 8 thousand-manat fine (according to the former law, the figure was 300 manats).

Similar legislation was brought forward in Russia this year following a series of mass protest actions. The law was criticized by the Russian opposition and human rights advocates.