Protection of the right to freedom of assembly and association under ECHR: compliance difficulties in Azerbaijan

Abstract

The protection of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association under the ECHR and compliance difficulties in Azerbaijan, regarding these rights are discussed in this master thesis. The protection of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association is one of the critical elements for the development of democracy, and these rights are protected by international documents such as the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (hereinafter referred as the European Convention on Human Rights or the ECHR). Furthermore, the protection of these rights at national level must be compatible with the standards of the Council of Europe. The imposition of restrictions on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association also violates the right to freedom of expression. The main problems and gaps in the national legislation are explained in detail, and research provides the primary solutions for these problems and also weaknesses. Therefore, the research question is to find out whether Azerbaijani government did implement commitments to the Council of Europe regarding the right to freedom of assembly and association, and whether there are sufficient grounds for the restrictions on the freedom of peaceful assembly and association.