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HOT LINE REPORT N5
October 30 - November 3, 2000
Electoral Violations Reported to the Azerbaijan Electoral
Rights Protection Hotline
SOS –93 83 97 Electoral Rights Protection
Hotline is acting with the initiative of the following Azeri
NGOs: 1. Political and Economic Reforms Center; 2. Azerbaijan
National Democracy Foundation; 3. Support Center for the Democratic
Elections; 4. The Association for the Protection of Women’s
Rights after D.Alieva; 5. The Center for Pluralism "Inam";
6. The Committee for the Protection of Democracy and Human
Rights.
The main goal of the activity of the hotline
is to create conditions for the citizens for struggling for
their electoral rights. For that purpose there are created
possibilities for the candidates, party activists and voters
whose rights have been violated to call 93 83 97 hotline and
report abuses and seek legal assistance. Announcements about
it and the numbers of the Hotline are published in the local
newspapers. The colleagues of the Hotline are, regularly,
receiving the reports from the citizens whose electoral rights
have been violated on the 93 83 97 and
(50) 314-17-17 hotline, give legal assistance
to them.
The Electoral Rights Protection Hotline prepares
reports on the violations of electoral rights, as well. For
forming more detailed view on the scale and directions of
the illegalities during the elections, some information on
the violations published at the local media are included to
the reports of the hotline.
Report N5 of the SOS- 938-397 Electoral Rights Protection
Hotline on the received reports on the illegalities during
the preparation stage to the parliamentary elections of the
Republic of Azerbaijan scheduled for November 5, 2000.
BRIEF COMMENT
From October 30 to November 3, 2000, SOS-938397 Electoral
Rights Protecting Hotline has received reports of 32 incidents.
Most of the reports are about the illegalities at the election
campaign. The analyses of these reports show that during the
last one week there have been carried out mass actions of
destroying the election placards of the oppositional political
parties in Baku and some provinces of the republic. There
are also concrete facts confirming that these actions have
been organized by the government circles.
In some reports are stated that the local government officials
are interfering in the electoral process. Just such interference
has caused increasing of tension in the regions of the country.
The candidates whose rights have been violated are struggling,
actively, for their rights. But some of them have withdrawn
their candidacy for breaking their hopes for the democratic
elections.
The reports on giving the election bulletins to the local
government, but not to the election commissions, and preparing
the voters’ lists with the inflated figures cause serious
concern on the falsification of the elections.
On October 30, 2000, SOS-938397 Hotline has received 7
reports.
ILLEGALITIES
1. Baku- on October 30, 2000, the
press service of the Musavat Party has given a report to the
hotline. The report says that the Mayor of Baku City has not
allowed the party to hold a meeting on November 3, 2000. The
meeting has been planned to be held at the Youth Square (Fountain
Square). The goal was to meet with the voters before the parliamentary
elections, explain election platform, goal and tasks of the
party. It is notable that the Musavat Party has officially
appealed to the Mayor of Baku City for permission to the meeting.
But a chief of the general department of the executive power
has refused officially received the appeal.
2. Baku- according to the report of
the Musavat Party’s election office, on October 29, 2000,
at night there has been destroyed the election placards of
the party in some districts of Baku. A group of unknown persons
in Nasimi district have torn the campaign placards of the
Musavat. The incident happened at the 18 Rashid Behbudov Street.
The Musavat members that interfered in the incident have been
insulted by these persons. The report says that Faiq Mammadov,
chief of the department at the Housing Exploitation Department
of Nasimi district, has headed this action. It is notable
that Mammadov is also a member of the 2nd Nasimi
REC no.27. According to the report, on October 29, 2000, a
specially organized mobile group has carried out the action
of taking and tearing the campaign placards of the Musavat
in the territory of Nizami district. The incident has happened
at 2-3 o’clock at night. The group that committed the incident
has painted the placards of the Musavat with black colors.
The members of the local branch of the party came to the place
of incident and kept those that carried out this action. Then
they run away from the incident place.
3. Neftchala- Afgan Bagirov, a representative
of the local government on Hasanabad settlement, and district
inspector have ordered the dwellers of the settlement to vote
for Arif Rahimzade, deputy chairman of the parliament, on
the majoritarian district no.79, and for the ruling party
of Yeni Azerbaijan [YAP] on the proportional system. It is
notable that the interference in the election process by the
government officials is a rough violation of the election
law. The report also states that on October 28, 2000, 5 secondary
schools in Neftchala City have been closed. The reason was
the teachers of these schools did not come to the meeting
with the candidate Arif Rahimzade. The schoolchildren have
not come to the meeting, as well. And the chief of the local
education department has ordered to close these schools. Chief
of the local education department is also a lawyer of Arif
Rahimzade.
4. Jalilabad- Azer Asgarov, deputy
chairman of the local branch of the Musavat Party, has called
the hotline and reported that the campaign placards of the
opposition are taken in the region. In his words, the placards
of the opposition have been taken on the road Baku-Astara
by the order of the local officials and police chief on the
occasion of the visit of Ilham Aliev to Jalilabad. The dwellers
were ordered to take the placards of the opposition from their
doors and to hang only the placards of Ilham Aliev. And those
who did not do it have been threatened with arrest. Asgarov
stated that regardless of all the pressures, the placards
of the opposition are still on the doors of the people.
5. Masalli- according to the report
of the Popular Front’s ["Yurd" fraction] press service,
there have been made rough violations while formalizing the
REC of Masalli election district no.77. It is notable that
the candidate that the authorities support from that district
is Ahad Abiev. The report says that Agapasha Agaiev and Elshan
Mammadov, close relatives of Ahad Abiev, have illegally appointed
a member to the REC. As a result, the Article 22 of the law
"On the Central Election Commission" has been violated.
The report also states that there have been the same illegalities
in the process of formalizing the local election commissions
in the region. There have been appealed to the chairman of
the CEC Mazahir Panahov in connection with the issue, but
have not got any reply, yet.
6. Zangilan- the REC has refused to
register the candidacy of Arif Rahimov (Shamo Arif), a candidate
from Zangilan-Gubadli election district no.86. A poet and
scientist Shamo Arif is an independent candidate. Half of
the signatures gathered in support of Rahimov have been declared
invalid. Rahimov has stated that he has made a complaint to
the CEC on the violation of his rights. But the CEC has not
considered his complaint.
QUESTIONING
7. Baku- a voter Mansur Rasulov from
Sabunchu district of Baku has called the hotline and asked
for a legal assistance. Rasulov is a refugee from Gubadli
region, and has been registered in the hostel of Sabail district
of Baku. But he lives in Sabunchu district together with his
family. According to the law, Rasulov has asked in which territory
he will vote. He has been given corresponding legal assistance.
On October 31, 2000, SOS-938397 Hotline has received 8
reports.
ILLEGALITIES
1. Baku- in the Article 79 of the
law "On the elections to Milli Mejlis" is said,
"All the members of the election commissions and observers
have right to acquaint with any information included and withdrawn
from the state automated information system". But in
the corresponding order signed by the chairman of the CEC
Mazahir Panahov is, against the item of the law, stated that
only a chairman of the REC can enter to the room where placed
the equipment of the automated information system on the day
of the election. Etibar Mammadov, chairman of the National
Independence Party [NIP], gave this information to the journalists
in his briefing. Mammadov said that the mentioned order has
been signed without informing the CEC members, and by this
the Article 28 of the law "On the elections to Milli
Mejlis" has been violated, as well. Mammadov has appealed
to the prosecutor with the request of attracting the chairman
of the CEC Panahov to criminal responsibility.
2. Samukh- the REC has refused to
register the candidacy of Alirza Abilov, a candidate from
Samukh-Shamkir-Goranboy election district no.85. 130 of 2,300
signatures gathered in support of the candidate have been
declared invalid. Abilov has stated that the REC has refused
to register his candidacy without holding second casting of
lots. Abilov has made a complaint to the CEC. The CEC has
recommended him to appeal to the court. The Samukh region
court has considered the case of Abilov and kept in force
the decision of the REC. Abilov intends to appeal to the Court
of Appeal in connection with the illegalities.
3. Baku- Mustafa Mirzaiev, a candidate
from Azizbeyov election district no.18, has faced with illegality
by the court and members of the commission. In his words,
since a candidate Shaitdin Aliev is his alternative, they
want to keep him aside from the elections. In the opinion
of Mammadov, chief of the Azizbeyov police department has
threatened him and ordered to withdraw his candidacy. Mirzaiev
has appealed to the international organizations in connection
with the happened illegalities.
4. Baku- the REC has refused to register
the candidacy of Tofiq Huseinov, a candidate from Nizami election
district no.12, member of the NIP. The REC has shown its reason
as not signing the signature sheets by the authoritative representative
of the candidate. It is notable that according to the law,
the signature sheets of the candidates from the majoritarian
districts have to be signed by the person that gathers the
signature and candidate himself. Huseinov has appealed to
the CEC in connection with the illegalities. But the CEC has
illegally kept in force the decision of the REC. the case
has been considered by the Nizami district court. In the words
of Huseinov, while the court has confirmed his rightness,
has kept in force the decision of the REC. Huseinov intends
to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
5. Gabala- according to the report
of Sadiq Dashdemirov from the election office of local branch
of the Musavat, the campaign placards of the Musavat are taken
in the region. In the words of Dashdemirov, Tofiq Ibrahimov,
chief of the local tax department, and local government officials
control this action. The tax department has threatened all
the local officials and does not allow them to hang the campaign
placards of the opposition. Dashdemirov has stated that Ibrahimov
is a close relative of the candidate Fattah Heidarov. It is
notable that Heidarov is father of Kamaladdin Heidarov, chairman
of the State Customs Committee. Dashdemirov also added that
there has happened an incident among the relatives of Heidarov
that took the placards of the Musavat and the local dwellers.
6. Salyan- on the day of visit of
Ilham Aliev to the south part of the republic- on October
29, 2000, the police in the region have begun to tear the
placards of the opposition hang in the streets, even in the
election stations. The report says that the police officers
are directly controlling these actions, and Aligulu Zeynalov,
a colleague of the Salyan region police department, heads
this process.
ARRESTS
7. Lankaran- there have been arrested
3 voters during the meeting of Ilham Aliev that heads the
proportional election list of the YAP in Lankaran on October
30, 2000. According to the report of the Musavat’s election
office, while Aliev made a speech before the voters a group
of the participants has raised the portraits of Isa Gamber,
chairman of the Musavat Party and called slogans on the Musavat
Party. By the order of the head of the local government, 2
members of the Musavat that took the portraits of Isa Gamber-
Emil Abbasov, and Zaur Nasirov, as well as an independent
voter Tural Shiraliev have been arrested. The report says
that at present they are kept at the prison of Lankaran police
department and has not been declared any accusation about
them, yet.
QUESTIONING
8. Baku- Yusif Abilov has called the
hotline and reported that he is registered in Gabala together
with his family. But at present lives in Baku. Abilov has
asked whether he can vote in Baku or not. He has been given
a legal assistance.
On November 1, 2000, SOS-938397 Hotline has received
6 reports.
ILLEGALITIES
1. Khanlar- Murad Ashurov, the registered
candidate from Khanlar-Dashkesen election district no.91,
on October 30, 2000, has appealed to the REC on refusal to
participate in the elections. In the words of Ashurov, the
current stage of the incidents shows that there is going a
strong preparation for the complete falsification of the elections.
As, the state officials are illegally gathering the passports
of the electors. It is against the Article 86 of the law on
the elections. In addition, the commissions are mainly composed
of the government officials and their relatives for making
falsifications at the election stations. For that reason,
Ashurov has decided to refuse of the participation in the
elections in accordance with the Article 48 of the election
law.
2. Ismailli- according to the local
branch of the Musavat Party, all the campaign placards of
the party have been taken in the region. This action has been
carried out by Ogtay Batirov, a representative of the local
government, in Gubakhalil village, and Knyaz Akberov, head
of the municipality in Geraybeyli village. The report also
states that the placards of the Musavat have been taken at
the district election commission, as well.
3. Nakhichevan- Amir Pahlavan (Amir
Hajiev), a well-known journalist and dramatist, and candidate
from Babek-Shahbuz election district no.4 has been made pressures.
In the report from Babek region is said that at present, there
are held meetings in Nehram village. Vagif Hasanov, chairman
of the REC, has fleet, and secretary of the REC has fallen
ill for not bearing of the tense.
4. Nakhichevan- on October 30, 2000,
Bunyamin Gambarli, a candidate to the Supreme Assembly of
the Autonomous Republic, and Haji Ibrahim, a candidate to
the Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan Republic, have been summoned
to the police station of Babek region. In the words of Gambarli,
they have been ordered to stop the meeting in Nehram village.
It is notable that the supporters of the mentioned candidates
are holding meetings for several days with the claim of stopping
the pressures against these candidates.
5. Goranboy- according to the report
of the ADP’s press service, Asif Rustamov, a local official
of Girikhli village, has stated that he will not allow the
oppositional observers to the stations. Rustamov has stated
that the observers can stand around the election stations
and observe the election process. In addition, the government
representative has made obstacles hanging and distributing
the placards of the oppositional candidates around the territory
of the village.
6. Baku- According to the report given
to the hotline, on October 30, 2000, there has been held a
meeting with the particiaptino of the police department’s
chiefs of Baku at the Head Police Department of Baku City.
Maharram Aliev, chief of the Head Police Department, has spoken
on the tasks of the police in connection with the November
5th parliamentary elections. Aliev has strongly
warned his employees that all the police colleagues must vote
for the YAP. Aliev has stressed that any police colleague
that will vote for the Musavat Party will be seriously punished.
On November 2, 2000, SOS-938397 Hotline has received 5
reports.
ILLEGALITIES
1. Qusar- Aydin Manguliev from Qusar
election district no.65 has called the hotline and reported
that the head of the local government has held a closed conference
with the participation of the local election commissions and
some members of the REC. it is notable that Manguliev is a
member of the local branch of the Musavat Party and representative
of the party in the REC. He has not been allowed to take part
in the conference. Stating the tense situation in the region
Manguliev has stressed that the head of the local government
is interfering in the electoral process. There are held a
number of closed meetings of the local officials in connection
with the forthcoming elections.
2. Baku- the local authorities have
given special orders to the social security departments. According
to these orders, they should be written letters to the RECs
on the names of the pensioners and invalids of the 1st
group, and asked to be brought the ballot boxes to the houses
for not being able to go to the election stations. It is notable
that the hotline has already received a number of similar
reports. According to the source, the campaign is made for
the purpose of creating conditions for falsifying the results
of votes.
3. Baku- on November 1, 2000, the
Court of Appeal has obtained the claim of Aydin Gafarov, an
unregistered candidate from the 1st Narimanov election
district no.24. The Court of Appeal has liquidated the sentence
of the Narimanov district court on keeping in force the decision
of the REC on refusal of registering Gafarov’s candidacy.
In addition, while the candidacy of Gafarov has been registered
just several days before the polls, his rights have not been
completely restored. Because, Gafarov has only 3 days for
holding his election campaign.
4. Baku- according to the report of
the Popular Front ("Yurd" wing), the campaign placards
of the party are taken in the streets. The report says that
the employees of the Housing Exploitation Departments and
police colleagues are tearing the placards of the party by
the orders of the local government officials. There are also
separated special cars for taking the placards and children
being paid every day are dealing with this action. Instead
of the torn portraits and placards are hanged the portraits
of Ilham Aliev. The report also stresses that on October 31,
2000, Murad Sultanov, a member of the Salyan regional branch
of the Popular Front ("Yurd" wing), has been called
to the police station and arrested for holding the election
campaign of the party.
5. Jalilabad- Aliheidar Salmanli,
member of the local branch of the Musavat, has called the
hotline and reported that all the election bulletins are not
presented to the REC. in his words, the local government officials
have kept 5,500 majoritarian and 6,000 proportional election
bulletins in the office. A representative of the party at
the REC has given the report to the Musavat members.
On November 2, 2000, SOS-938397 Hotline has received 6
reports.
ILLEGALITIES
1. Baku- the election office of the
ADP has given a report to the hotline. The report says that
Sardar Jalaliglu, secretary general of the party, has appealed
to the Court of Appeal and requested to liquidate the sentence
of the Sabail district court of preventive punishment on Rasul
Guliev who heads the proportional election sheet of the ADP.
The Court of Appeal has considered the complaint, but kept
in force the sentence of the Sabail district court. On November
2, 2000, Jalaloglu has given an appeal to the Supreme Court
on the decision of the Court of Appeal. In the appeal is stated
that the Court of Appeal has not given any information to
the opposing side while considering the case on Rasul Guliev
and so, has violated the Article 71 of the Constitution.
2. Baku- according to the report of
the ADP’s election office, on November 1, 2000, a supporter
of the party Kamal Alasgarov has been roughly beaten by unknown
persons while distributing the campaign posters of the ADP
at the trade center of Bina airport. Then, his campaign posters
have been taken. Alasgarov stated those persons were police
colleagues in civic uniforms.
3. Baku- the report of the ADP’s election
office says that the campaign placards of the party are taken
in the city. The campaign placard of the ADP has been taken
in the station no.19 at the Sabail election district no.28
by the order of the chairman of the local commission. And
at the station in secondary school no.6 only the placards
of the ADP have been taken.
4. Baku- Malik Mammadov from Saray
settlement of Absheron region has reported that 3 dwellers
of the village have been arrested. In his words, Intigam Majidov,
Aliaga, and Agaverdi have been arrested for being active for
holding the elections democratic. They have called the dwellers
of the village to participate in the elections and vote for
any candidate they want. On October 31, 2000, at night they
were taken by the police from their home. They have been arrested
as if for insulting the police.
5. Baku- Yusif Suleymanov from Nasimi
election district no.27 has reported that there has been made
serious illegality at the election station no.15. He stated
that the names of the voters are repeated at the elector’s
lists from the number of 99 to 146 and from 146 to 243. As,
the total number of the voters in that station is 946 and
this figure is shown at the end of the electors’ lists. But
at the beginning of the list the number of the voters is shown
as 1,225. Suleymanov has shown some of the repeated names
and stated that the names of OMON member Rovshan Javadov’s
doughter and son Lachin Javadov is written twice in the list.
QUESTIONING
6. Baku- Parnisa Jafarova, an observer
at the Narimanov REC no.22, has called the hotline and asked
for a legal assistance. Jafarova is registered at the Khatai
district. As she is an observer in other district, she asked
in which district she could vote. She has been given corresponding
legal assistance
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Posted November 6, 2000 © Eurasianet
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