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15 percent of Azerbaijani citizens in Moscow attends referendum to amend Constitution as of midday

Politics Materials 18 March 2009 14:35 (UTC +04:00)

Russia, Moscow, March 18 / Trend , R.Agayev/

Voter turnout on the referendum to amend the Constitution of Azerbaijan made up 15 percent in Moscow by midday.

"As for 12:00 local Moscow time, over 200 Azerbaijani citizens voted at the 37 polling station -I Yasamal District Constituency, which was opened in the Azerbaijani Embassy in Moscow," Election Commission chairman Agalar Atamoglanov told Trend . 

Thus, the vote turnover is 15 percent. The main electorate flow is expected in the second half of the day, Atamoglanov said.

"Despite today is a working day in Russia, we observe the turnout," Atamoglanov added.

Azerbaijani citizens from Russian regions, including Yaroslav, Kostroma and other regions will arrive in Moscow to vote in the referendum.

"Azerbaijani Justice Ministry Academy 70 students from Razan, including 50 Azerbaijani citizens from Yaroslav will arrive in Moscow soon," Atamoglanov added. 

A total of 1,266 electorates were registered in this polling station, out of which 36 percent have already voted.

Azerbaijan is holding a referendum on March 18 to amend the Constitution.

The Azerbaijani Constitution was adopted in 1995. Amendments and additions were made in 2002.

The referendum proposes to replace the current edition of the 5th paragraph of Article 101 of the Azerbaijani Constitution, which states that "no person shall be elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for more than two consecutive terms", by an option extending incumbent President's office term in case when ongoing military operations during a war make it impossible to conduct a regular presidential election. The term of office of Azerbaijani President is 5 years. The incumbent President Ilham Aliyev was elected to the post in 2003 and 2008.

A total of 41 amendments to 29 articles are planned to be made in the Constitution. The amendments envisage postponement of parliamentary elections in case of military operations, right of legislative initiative to 40,000 voters, ban on keeping video and audio recording and photographing a person against his will, financial support to ex-presidents of Azerbaijan, as well as technical changes.

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