Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.26 / Trend , A. Huseynbala / An opposition party of Azerbaijan calls on international organizations to observe the referendum vote. "Official and non-official authorities openly and illegally intervene in collection of signatures to pass the registration of campaign group Movement for Garabakh and Republic," a source at the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (DPA), represented in the Movement, told Trend on Jan.26.
"If the Central Election Commission receives official appeals on any infringement of the law during the campaign, they will be considered and investigated," spokesperson for the Central Election Commission Azar Sariyev told Trend on Jan.26.
In late December, Azerbaijan's parliament passed a decision to hold a referendum on March 18 to amend 29 Articles of the Constitution.
A total of 14 referendum initiative groups have been launched thus far. Four of them have submitted referendum membership lists to the Central Election Commission. The CEC registered initiative group of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party on Jan. 22.
The constituencies have registered 45 initiative groups.
The Constitution was adopted in 1995. Amendments and additions were made in 2002.
According to the source, both signature collectors and signers put pressure and forced to renounce signatures that were given voluntarily. "Such kind of situation was observed previously when local representatives of the DPA and other parties, particularly representatives in Salyan and Masalli regions, faced a pressure," the source said.
The DPA believes that illegal actions and political tensions in the campaign can even now call the results of the referendum into question. "The DPA calls on official state bodies and the Central Election Commission to respect the laws and the Constitution of the country and form an atmosphere for appropriate political competitions, to take drastic measures on the officials offending the law," appeal of the opposition party says.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at: [email protected]