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Azerbaijani Parliament adopts amendments to law on right to obtain information

12 June 2012 14:31 (UTC +04:00)

APA reports that according to the proposed amendments, the information about founders of commercial legal bodies and their interests in the authorized capital will be confidential.

According to the draft, the information about founders of commercial legal bodies and their interests in the authorized capital can be announced in some cases on a basis of survey. Thus, this information can be given to the court, investigative agency, subjects of operational and search activity to the extent permitted by applicable law, to the financial monitoring bodies to the extent permitted by applicable law on â€œStruggle against legalization of money or other property acquired by criminal means, and financing of terrorismâ€. The information will be also announced to the executive authorities, lawyer, other founders and sharers of that commercial legal body.

Excluding the information about founders of commercial legal bodies and their interests in the authorized capital, every person has a right to become familiar with writings in the state registry and demand the extract from the state registry and copies of presented documents for registration.

The Tax Code and draft law on â€œCommercial secretâ€ were discussed. Corresponding amendments will be made to these drafts.

The amendments to the law on the right to obtain information were also discussed at the meeting. According to the proposed amendments, obtaining information is allowed with the proviso to that it is not contrary to the purposes of ensuring national interests of the Republic of Azerbaijan in military, economic and political spheres, protection of interests in financial and credit and monetary policy, protection of public order, health and morality, protection of rights and freedoms of the other persons, protection of commercial and the other economic interests, prestige and impartiality of court.

Chairman of the Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front, Gudrat Hasanguliyev said that draft amendment on the commercial secrets restricts the journalistsâ€™ opportunities to search and write. Hasanguliyev said that he was against the proposed amendment: â€œAnyway, we have many foes. With this amendment we create opportunity to these malevolent people for slandering.â€

Speaker Ogtay Asadov didnâ€™t agree with Hasanguliyev: â€œWho did say that this draft law is against journalists? Where has it been written?â€

DRP chairman Asim Mollazadeh was also against the proposed amendment: â€œI think that the current transparency shouldnâ€™t be violated.â€

YAP Deputy Executive Secretary Mubariz Gurbanli supported the amendment. He said that in fact the draft amendment will protect owners from blackmail in media: â€œThis is a logical step.â€

Chairman of the Umid (Hope) Party Igbal Aghazadeh said that the moments considered in the proposed amendment would not be considered as commercial secret: â€œPartner of company, its owner is not concealed in any places of the world.â€

Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament Valeh Alasgarov didnâ€™t agree with remarks: â€œIn fact, this amendment eliminates current uncertainty.â€

GEP chairman Fazil Mustafa said that the proposed amendment was against transparency.

The all four projects were put to voting and adopted at the end.