This paper analyzes the permissibility of restrictions on freedom of association provided by international human rights standards and the legality of means taken by governments to restrict the work of human rights NGOs. It identifies a growing trend of the adoption of restrictive laws regulating establishment and operation of NGOs in Azerbaijan, Belarus and the Russian Federation. Broad and vague provisions often provide the authorities with a possibility to misapply and arbitrarily abuse the laws, often resulting in severe consequences on the right to freedom of association. The Governments try to hamper the ability of individuals to exercise their right to form NGOs, by imposing cumbersome and partial registration procedures, often resulting in refusal of its registration, by establishing a wide discretionary right to control NGOs activities or by imposing financial constraints. It discusses the legality of the limits of discretion of national authorities to interpret the restrictions and implications on effective exercise of the right to freedom of association.

Ramute Remezaite holds LL.M. Master degree in Public International Law from Oslo University and Master degree in Law from Vilnius University. Since 2010, she has been working at the Human Rights House Foundation, based in Oslo and Geneva, and focused on human rights situation in Eastern Europe and Caucasus.