Azerbaijan, Baku, 24 September / Trend corr. I.Alizade / The Azerbaijani authorities consider claim of the opposition Umid (Hope) Party's presidential candidature on officials' participation in the propaganda campaign, organized by the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), as groundless.
"There is not such a case and the Umid Party's apply to the Central Elections Commission (CEC) is unfair," Ali Hasanov, the head of the Public and Political Department of the Azerbaijani President's Administration, told journalists on 24 September.
The presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on 15 October. The ruling NAP held a demonstration in Bibiheybat settlement of Baku on 17 September within the framework of the party's candidature President Ilham Aliyev's propaganda campaign. The Umid Party applied to the CEC and said that state employees' participation in the demonstration counteracts the Law. The party demands from the commission to take every measure on this matter.
None of top state employees participates in the pre-election propaganda campaign held by the ruling party, Hasanov said.
"As to any state employees' participation in demonstration organized by any party after the working hours, it is their private right. Every state employee is a citizen and voter. They have the right to join any action after the working hours," Hasanov said.
State employees do not participate actively in the pre-election propaganda campaign or sound challenges against or for any candidature, he said.
"If such case happens, measure will be taken in line with the Law," Hasanov said.
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