Azerbaijan, Baku, 26 May / corr. Trend I. Alizade/ If the Azerbaijani Opposition will attempt to disturb stability after the presidential elections and to change the results of the voting, the Government will prevent such moves. "If the opposition parties will not accept the objective results of the elections and if they will attempt to change political situation in favor of their interests, they will not achieve anything. We will take appropriate measures against those who will try to do something illegal," Bahar Muradova, the vice speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament and member of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party said to Trend on 26 May.
A day after the presidential elections held on 15 October 2003, there was a confrontation between police and Opposition supporters. The supporters of Isa Gambar, the candidate from the Opposition and head of the Musavat (Equality) party, who was second in the elections with 14% votes, staged an illegal demonstration in Azadlig ( Liberty) square and had to be dispersed by the police. One opposition supporter died, tens of cars were burned and hundreds of opposition supporters were arrested by security forces as a result of confrontation between police and opposition.
The Opposition, who did not accept the results of parliament elections in November 2005, began their protest actions. On 26 November, the attempt of opposition to begin demonstrations was prevented by the police. Tens of opposition supporters and police were injured as a result of the confrontation.
"The opposition parties know that they will not achieve success in the parliament elections. Probably, the leaders of the opposition have some plans to change the results of the election once they lose elections. Only they can tell what plans they have," said vice speaker.
Muradova called on the opposition leaders to draw conclusion from the developments following 2003 presidential and 2005 parliament elections.
The next presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held on 15 October 2008.
The correspondent can be contacted at - [email protected]