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Azerbaijani Oppositionists Boycotting Elections Plan to Hold Unofficial Demonstrations

Politics Materials 3 October 2008 19:14 (UTC +04:00)
Azerbaijani Oppositionists Boycotting Elections Plan to Hold Unofficial Demonstrations

Azerbaijan, Baku, 3 October /corr. Trend I.Alizade / The Center of opposition co-operation which brings together the organizations boycotting the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan discusses the issue of holding unofficial demonstrations. 

"Opposition may held unofficial demonstration due to the issue that the Executive Power of Baku does not allow to hold demonstration, and we think of it," the Co-chair of the Center, Leader of National Unity Movement, Lale Shovkat, told Trend on 3 October. 

Azadlig, uniting the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Citizen and Development Party and Liberal Party, Musavat party and the Forum For Azerbaijan signed a joint statement on 5 September recognizing the elections and the power which will come after the elections as illegal.

The political organizations which signed statement made a decision to hold meeting in one of the central areas of Baku on 28 September. The political organizations appealed to the executive power of Baku city for allocation of a place. The Executive Power of City allowed to hold the demonstration in the outskirts of city - in the stadium of Bibiheybat. The opposition did not agree with this, and the demonstration was postponed.

"Over last two years, Azadlyg bloc conducted several unofficial demonstrations. Unfortunately, in each demonstration, 50-70 people were arrested. However, despite this, we made a decision to continue the unofficial demonstrations," said Shovket.

Shovket does not agree with the opinion that the Center actually does not act. She said that the Center appealed to the Public Television for allocation of ether time for opposition, the Executive Power of Baku City for allocation of place in the city center for conducting the protest actions.


"However, a positive response was not made to any of these appeals. The Center continues its activity. Unfortunately, authority again wants to take non-democratic steps. Today it everywhere prevents the activity of opposition political parties," said Shovket.

She said that the opposition parties hold discussions to attain strategic goals and tactical issues.

"In the near future, the society will be witness of stronger activity of the opposition," Shovket said.

She considers that opposition's tactics to boycott presidential elections yield positive results and the accuracy of this step was confirmed.

The Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), Siyavush Novruzov, told Trend that the presidential elections will be free, democratic and transparent. "All conditions have been created for this. The OSCE, Council of Europe and other international organizations stated that the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan makes it possible to hold free, democratic and transparent elections," he said.

According to Novruzov, the opposition well knows that in case of participation in the presidential elections, it will face a shameful situation. He said that the opposition does not have social base.   

The correspondent can be contacted at: [email protected]

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