Azeri opposition protests "gross violations" of electoral law in district

Text of report by Azerbaijani newspaper '525 gazet' on 21st October entitled "Mass action staged in Hajigabul"

[Subhead] Free and fair elections are demanded from head of district executive authorities

Over 200 Hajigabul District [central Azerbaijan] residents staged a picket on 20th October at 1200 [0700 gmt] outside the office of the district executive authorities, protesting against gross violations of the law "On elections to the Milli Majlis" at the Hajigabul-Salyan territorial electoral commission No 94. A member of the committee to protect the rights of illegally non-registered parliamentary hopefuls, Khanhuseyn Aliyev, said this to the Turan news agency.

Khanhuseyn Aliyev said that neither he nor independent and opposition members were registered by this territorial electoral commission. Only the pro-government Alliance for Azerbaijan Party chairman, Abutalyb Samadov, who is a dark horse in the district, and two others whose candidacies were approved by the head of the executive authorities, have been registered by the commission. Aliyev said the picket demanded democratic elections, an end to interference in the electoral process by the head of the executive authorities and cancellation of Abutalyb Samadov's registration as a parliamentary candidate. Although officials from the executive authorities met the pickets, they refused to accept written demands. The police outside the building did not interfere in the protest.

Source: `525 gazet', Baku, in Azeri 21 Oct 00 p3

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Posted October 23, 2000 © Eurasianet
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