After several near-break-ups, Azerbaijan and the National Democratic Institute may get back together again. US Ambassador Richard Morningstar has announced that Baku is willing to let the US non-profit continue its democracy-building in Azerbaijan, local news services report.
Azerbaijani authorities had accused the local chapter of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) of illegal financial operations, but many in Azerbaijan think that the real problem was in public expressions of government criticism by the group and its chief of party Alex Grigoriev’s role.
Soon after, Azerbaijani authorities discovered alleged glitches in the financial practices of NDI, local press began implying that the group was a US intelligence operation. Washington and Baku tried to avoid public exchanges on the topic, but negotiations reportedly were going on behind closed doors.
With Baku busy courting Washington these days, both with flowers and conventions, the US government is in a position to exact some influence on Azerbaijani authorities.
“The Government of Azerbaijan has informed us that the issues relating to the National Democratic Institute have been resolved,” Morningstar was quoted by APA news agency as saying. “NDI will continue working in Azerbaijan to help develop civil society.”
It is unclear, however, if the authorities have drawn a line in the sand for the group, and if it can continue cooperating with any organization of its choice.
Giorgi Lomsadze is a journalist based in Tbilisi, and author of Tamada Tales.
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