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Azerbaijani lawmaker calls for criminalization of online defamation of first lady, ex-presidents

16 November 2016 12:37 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Mubariz Aslanov – APA. Azerbaijani MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev made a proposal during the discussion of draft amendment “On the fight against humiliation of honor and dignity of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic on the Internet” at the meeting of the parliament's Committee on legal policy and state-building Nov.16.

The MP said that these provisions must also be applied in regard with the country’s first lady.

“First lady is a title. I think that humiliation of honor and dignity of the first lady should be equated with a defamation of the president,” he added.

Hasanguliyev also stressed the importance of applying these provisions in regard with the country’s ex-presidents.

Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General Zakir Garalovhas presented to the parliament draft proposals on addition of Article 323-1 (illegal actions or humiliation of honor and dignity of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic in public statement, publicly shown product or mass media) of the Criminal Code. According to the draft amendment, the words “or mass media” shall be replaced by the words “in mass media or in internet resources in case of public dissemination”. For these actions, the applicable law envisages a fine of 500 to 1,000 manats, or correctional labor up to two years, or imprisonment for a period of two years. It is also proposed to add Article 323.1-1 to the law. For the actions mentioned in Article 323.1, the draft amendment envisages a fine of 1,000 to 1,500 manats or imprisonment for a period of three years.