Azerbaijani News Wires: Turan News Agency
November 9, 2005
DETAILS OF OSCE MISSION'S REPORT ON ELECTION SITUATION AND VOTING DAY IN AZERBAIJAN
BAKU/09.11.05/TURAN: Parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan fell short of many commitments and OSCE and Council of Europe standards of democratic elections, reads 12-pages-long statement "Primary Facts and Results" made by OSCE/ODIHR international observation mission.
The statement gives a preliminary assessment to the election campaign and parliamentary elections on November 6. Among positive moments the mission stressed providing free airtime to candidates on television channels financed by the government, usage of special inks to mark electors' fingers and lifting restrictions on monitoring elections by NGOs with 30% foreign funding. The mission also stressed several important shortcomings. These are, particularly, interference of local executive authorities into election process, providing assistance to pro-governmental candidates, restrictions on staging demonstrations and even use of inadequate force by policemen against participants of unauthorized demonstrations. In addition, the election campaign was marred by arrests of opposition activists. Election commissions have been formed in favor of pro-governmental candidates. There were no procedures to renew electors' lists and distribute electors' certificates. In at least 33 districts electors' number exceeded the permissible norm. On the election day the international mission's observers positively assessed voting process at 87% polling stations, which they had visited.
But situation was bad or very bad during vote counting at 43% of monitored polling stations.
Voting results were distorted in protocols at 15% polling stations. At 15% more polling stations protocols were filled in by pencils. At 18% polling stations observers were threatened. At 14% polling stations strange people came to vote. At 54% polling stations protocols were not made public in violation of law. Vote counting procedure in 31% district election commissions was assessed as bad or very bad.
The document reads that the ruling party Yeni Azerbaijan "dominated" in the election campaign. In addition, electors were given presents during the election campaign in contradiction to the law. Meanwhile, electors' bribing was regarded as a legal measure. On September 3 Leader television channel showed how candidate for parliament Ali Ahmedov, executive secretary of ruling party Yeni Azerbaijan, donated 20 TV sets to the Old People's Home.
In addition, OSCE/ODIHR mission stressed a wide practice of usage of administrative resources, including official buses, employees and etc, by pro-governmental candidates.
The report also stressed that candidates for parliament had unequal possibilities in electronic media. All television channels electioneered in favor pro-governmental candidates and only ANS channel kept the balance.
OSCE/ODIHR will continue monitoring post-election situation in Azerbaijan and if necessary provide publicity with new information and after two months it will give a final assessment with recommendations on improvement of electoral practice.
In addition, report on elections will be adopted at the PACE winter session in January 2006.-0--
GENERAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE STARTED INVESTIGATION OF VIOLATION OF LAW DURING ELECTIONS
BAKU/09.11.05/TURAN: At instruction of President Ilham Aliyev, General Prosecutor's Office has created a special group to investigate violation of law during parliamentary elections on November 6, General Prosecutor Zakir Garalov said in his interview to state-run television channel.
The group has started investigation and already revised voting results in two districts, added Garalov. He said that all people to blame for violation of law will be brought to criminal responsibility.
General Prosecutor's Office claims that 39 complaints about violation of voting procedure were lodged during the election day. The measures were taken to prevent violation of law and one criminal case has been instituted.
Garalov said that many opposition's statements about violation of voting procedure have not been registered officially and cannot be considered.-0-
INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL POSITION ABOUT MASS VIOLATIONS DURING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
BAKU/09.11.05/TURAN: Parliamentary elections on November 6 were marked by an unprecedented number of violations, which occurred in presence of observers, reads report of non-governmental Institute of Human Rights and Civil Position.
The majority of violations included:
- Exerting pressure on observers
- Exerting pressure on election commissions' members;
- Electioneering in favor of pro-governmental candidate by heads of election commissions;
- Repeated voting by special groups at one or several polling stations;
- Voting without fingers' marking;
- Lack of electors' surnames in electors' lists;
- Access to voting without verification of fingers' marking;
- Ballot boxes stuffing by heads of election commissions;
- Removal of ballot boxes by heads of election commissions;
- Arrest of active observers by police;
- Interference of police and executive authorities into voting procedure;
- Usage of low-quality inks for fingers marking;
- Removal of observers from polling stations before vote counting and many others.
The report includes scandalous facts of violations. In Bilga district Galib Salahzade, member of municipality, controled voting procedure, he gave instructions to heads of commissions, policemen and etc. At his instruction police has arrested two observers - one for "active" monitoring marking procedure and another one for preventing ballot stuffing.
Institute calls into question legitimacy of the parliamentary elections.-0-
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN AZERBAIJAN FAILED TO TAKE PLACE, CLAIMS COORDINATION CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL
BAKU/09.11.05/TURAN: Parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan on November 6 failed to take place, said Arzu Abdullayeva, chairman of NGO "Coordination Consultative Council For The Sake of Free and Just Elections," said at today's press conference.
Since beginning of election campaign till end of voting the whole election process was anti-democratic.
Observer Chingiz Dadashev said that monitoring of situation at polling stations proves that elections fell short of all possible standards.
Human rights activist Saida Gojamanly also said that elections failed to take place. Speaking about course of voting, she stressed numerous irregularities at Narimanov region electoral district No 20, for which Musavat party's chairman Isa Gambar stands.
Gojamanly has informed about the facts of police violence and interference of executive authorities into voting procedure, non-admittance of observers to polling stations and in some cases their driving away from polling stations, ballot boxes stuffing and many others.-0-
VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO'S PARTY CONCERNED ABOUT FALSIFICATION OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN AZERBAIJAN
KIEV/09.11.05/TURAN: Last evening ruling party "People's Union Our Ukraine" made a statement expressing concern over political situation in Azerbaijan in light of numerous irregularities during parliamentary elections.
Fair will of citizens is a the basis of democracy and civilized political system. "People's Union Our Ukraine" is well aware of importance of democratization of Azerbaijani society and hopes that during this responsible period people and government will find a mutual understanding and the country could avoid internal confrontation, reads the statement.-0--
VLADIMIR PUTIN CONGRATULATED ILHAM ALIYEV ON "SUCCESSFUL" COMPLETION OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
BAKU/09.11.05/TURAN: Last evening Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev by phone on "successful" completion of parliamentary elections, which were conducted in line with "democratic" norms.
Ilham Aliyev has highly assessed activities of CIS observers, including Russian observers.
Presidents were satisfied with "a rapid development of bilateral" relationships and exchanged opinions on further perspectives of cooperation in various fields.-0-
OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS ARRESTED IN AZERI REGIONS TO PREVENT THEIR ARRIVAL TO BAKU
BAKU/09.11.05/TURAN: Since morning police started arrests of Popular Front party's activists in many Azerbaijani regions without any reasons, reports party's press office.
It has been reported that opposition activists have been detained in Sabirabad, Saatly, Ujar and several other regions.
At the entrances to Baku police placed posts to detain people arriving to the capital, if they are suspected of an intention to join today's demonstration. The same posts have been placed in Zagatala, Hajigabul, Ali-Bayramly and Sabirabad regions.
Shain Hasanli, chief of PPFA organizational department, said that authorities attempt to prevent people's joining demonstration, which Azadlig bloc is going to stage today at Galaba square at 3.00 p.m.
According to unconfirmed information, administration of Baku State University prohibited students from leaving the building till evening and closed the university's doors.-0--
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS OF BAKU STATE UNIVERSITY THREATENED WITH DISMISSAL FOR PARTICIPATION AT DEMONSTRATION
BAKU/09.11.05/TURAN: Administration of Baku State University has warned students and teachers about their expulsion for participation at today's opposition demonstration, sources from University told TURAN.
Control at the entrance and exit of the university has been toughened since morning.-0-
10 CANDIDATES FOR PARLIAMENT IN ELECTORAL DISTRICT NO 81 INSIST ON CANCELLATION OF VOTING RESULTS IN MILITARY UNITS
BAKU/09.11.05/TURAN: Ten candidates for parliament in Beylagan region electoral district No 81 have demanded that Mazahir Panahov, CEC chairman, should cancel voting results in military units located on the territory of this district.
The statement reads that during the election campaign they had no opportunity to meet with military and on November 6 elections in these units have been falsified in favor of one of the candidates.
Six candidates signed the statement are independent, 2 ones are members of ruling party Yeni Azerbaijan and one from Azadlig bloc and Civil Solidarity party each.
Independent candidate Safar Mamedov has won victory in this district.-0-
37 RULING PARTY'S MEMBERS WON ELECTIONS TO NAKHCHIVAN SUPREME MEJLIS
NAKHCHIVAN/09.11.05/TURAN: Election results were regarded as valid at all 45 electoral districts in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. 37 elected Deputies represent ruling party Yeni Azerbaijan, six ones non-party members and two PPFA members, Magerram Aliyev, chairman of Nakhchivan CEC, told TURAN. He said elections were conducted at a "high" level and no complaints have been lodged to CEC. A total of 145 candidates stood for parliament.-0--
CANDIDATE FOR PARLIAMENT LODGED COMPLAINT TO CEC AND GENERAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
BAKU/09.11.05/TURAN: Zulfiya Aliyeva, candidate for Devechi-Siyazan electoral district No 54, has lodged complaint to CEC and General Prosecutor's Office about falsifications and irregularities in this district. She said falsifications have been made in favor of the ruling party's candidate Taira Suleymanova. She attached video materials confirming violations to the documents.
Zulfiya Aliyeva is a leader of the public union of Legal Democratic Development.-0-
ZAHID ORUJ DENIES CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST HIM
BAKU/09.11.05/TURAN: Zahid Oruj, candidate for parliament in Barda region electoral district No 93, has denied charges brought against him. He is accused of winning elections as a result of falsifications.
Candidate was surprised with the statement of his rival, who accused Barda executive authorities of supporting Zahid Oruj. He told TURAN that "at all 42 polling stations in this district all members of election commissions have signed protocols confirming his victory."-0-
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