Azerbaijan, Baku, 08 October / Trend , corr. I.Alizade / The limitations in the freedom of assembly were not observed during the pre-election agitation campaign in Azerbaijan.
"Some 505 meetings have been held for the agitation of the candidates over the period from 17 September to 7 October and no serious obstacles were presented for the freedom of assembly," expert Alimammad Nuriyev said to the press-press conference at the international press center of Trend Agency on 8 October.
The presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held on 15 October. Seven candidates will take part in the elections, including Ilham Aliyev, chairman of ruling New Azerbaijan Party; Igbal Agazade, chairman of opposition Umid (Hope) Party; Fazil Gazanfaroglu, chairman of Great Establishment Party; Gudrat Hasanguliyev, chairman of Unified Popular Front Party; Hafiz Hajiyev, chairman of Muasir Musavat Party; Fuad Aliyev, chairman of Liberal Democrat Party and independent candidate Gulamhuseyn Alibayli.
Nuriyev said that the presidential candidates held meetings mainly in closed places. "All meetings took place in the places allocated by the Executive Powers. Only the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) has held a meeting in Bibiheybat for the agitation of presidential candidate Ilham Aliyev," he said.
The expert said that the action arranged by the Co-operation Center of Opposition representing the parties boycotting elections did not take place.
He said that Unified Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Great Establishment Party and Muasir Musavat Party appealed for the Baku City Executive Power to hold meetings in front of the Tabriz cinema on 13 and 11 October.
"The NAP has mostly held meetings during the agitation campaign. The ruling party has held 451 meetings attended by 371 people. Gudrat Hasanguliyev has held five meetings. The presidential candidates, Chairman of Umid Party Sardar Jalaloglu and Chairman of Azerbaijan Liberal Democrat Party Fuad Aliyev voluntarily refused to hold mass meetings. They prefer to online propaganda in media," the expert said.
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