Azerbaijan, Baku, September 25 /Trend, M.Aliyev/
The Press group under Azerbaijani Central Election Commission (CEC) issued a statement on the dissemination of agitation materials by some foreign media outlets on the eve of the presidential elections.
According to the statement, some foreign media outlets carry out illegal agitation and anti-agitation under the pretext of lighting the electoral process, ignoring the requirements of the law, and in most cases harshly violating it.
As a result, such foreign media outlets become the exponents of certain political interests, violating the rights of voters to obtain reliable information.
"Similar issues are starkly revealed in the activities of a number of foreign media outlets, distributed in Azerbaijan. The participation of well-known media structures as "Voice of America","Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty" and BBC Radio in this process is at least surprising," the statement said.
The Press group under the CEC said that these radios have violated articles 74.4.1 and 90.2 of Azerbaijan's Electoral Code.
"These articles envisage a ban on conducting of agitation and propaganda campaigns by international organizations and foreign media outlet. However, the above-mentioned structures carry out a pre-election agitation. Last time this issue was raised at the CEC press group meeting, but they still continue to do it," the statement said.
Both local and foreign media outlet can disseminate simple information, but can not carry out a live broadcast and voice opinions "for" and "against" of a particular candidate, member of the Central Election Commission Fuad Javadov said.
According to him, publication and dissemination of agitation materials in the media, which contradict with the above mentioned requirements and lead to breach of terms and rules of pre-election agitation and aimed at carrying out a pre-election agitation in the media which do not have the right to do this, are strictly prohibited.
The Press group under the CEC consists of 19 people, of which Azer Taghiyev, Fuad Javadov, Almaz Gahramanli are members of the CEC, Azer Sariyev is the member of CEC Secretariat, and the remaining 15 people are the employees of news agencies, television and newspapers.
Presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held on October 9.
Previous presidential elections were held on October 15, 2008. The presidential elections in Azerbaijan are held every five years.
Press group under Azerbaijani CEC issues statement on dissemination of agitation materials by foreign media outlets
The Press group under Azerbaijani Central Election Commission (CEC) issued a statement on the dissemination of agitation materials by some foreign media outlets on the eve of the presidential elections.
