Azeri major opposition party leader says parliamentary polls not valid

Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency Bilik Dunyasi on 6th November

[No dateline as received] "Some 20 to 30 per cent of the electorate turned out to vote in the parliamentary elections. A quorum was not reached at all in some places," First Deputy Chairman of the People's Front of Azerbaijan Party [PFAP] Ali Kerimov told a news conference today on 6th November at the editorial office of 'Azadlyg' newspaper. He said that not only observers, but also commission members in districts were forcibly removed from commissions. He stressed that the PFAP had continued to collect protocols, as they proved election fraud, despite the obstacles created by precinct electoral commissions. Kerimov noted that these documents had been collected only at the first stage. He said that in Kedabek District, where it had been possible to observe the elections fully, the PFAP had gained 31 per cent of the votes, although the district executive authorities had reduced this figure and made it 9 per cent. In Agdam 26 per cent was put down as 5-6 per cent, in Goychay 24 per cent was put down as 8 per cent, etc. He also noted that the elections did not reflect the will of the Azerbaijani people.

Kerimov cited an example from a single-mandate precinct, saying that despite the fact that protocols collected by Chairman of the Compatriot Party Mais Safarli proved that he had won convincingly, state TV had already reported the success of his rival, Maksim Musayev. Kerimov also said that the PFAP was set to continue its struggle and start consultations with all the opposition parties to adopt decisions meeting the current situation. The party has submitted all documents proving election fraud to international organizations, including the representative offices of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, observers from the Russian Duma and others. Finally, Kerimov said that the parliamentary elections could not be deemed valid, and it was necessary to call for early elections in 2001.

Source: Bilik Dunyasi, Baku, in Russian 1650 gmt 06 Nov 00

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Posted November 7, 2000 © Eurasianet
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