Azerbaijan, Baku, 28 February / Trend corr. S.Ilhamgizi / Mazahir Panahov, chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), considers that the statement by Azerbaijani parties that it was impossible to hold free and democratic elections, taking into consideration the current composition of the election commissions, is ungrounded. Panahov made this statement during the press-conference held on 28 February.
On 15 October 2008, the presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani opposition parties consider that election commissions have been under the state control. Therefore, it is impossible to hold free, fair and democratic elections.
Panahov noted that the democratic elections depend not only on this structure, as more than 4mln people will be participating in the election process.
"Despite other countries, the election supervisors have enormous power in Azerbaijan. There is no other country which has set up such severe punishments for the violation during the election process, the way it is in Azerbaijan," Panahov said.
During the parliamentary elections 2005, the chairmen of the second election district in Sumgayit 42 and second election district in Binagadi 9, were detained. The claims raised against the three districts Garadag-Binagadi-Yasalam 12, Agdash 90, Nefchala 61 were submitted to the General Prosecutor Office.
The composition of district election commission of second election station in Binagadi 9, second election station in Nizami 38 in Ganja, second election station Sumgayit 42, Zagatala 10, Agdam kand 119 and Zangilan-Gubadli 125 were dissolved as a result of the disclosed violations.
The heads of Executive Power of Zagatala and Sabirabad regions of Azerbaijan were dismissed, due to their interference into the election process.
CEC acknowledged invalid the results of the elections, in 460 election stations in the four election districts, during the parliamentary elections in 2005.