Azerbaijani opposition parties have alleged numerous violations
of the law in the casting of lots in connection with the
organization of precinct electoral commissions set up to
oversee the municipal elections on 12th December 1999.

On 2nd September the newspaper 'Avrasiya' reported that the
People's Front of Azerbaijan Party (PFAP), the Party for
National Independence of Azerbaijan (PNIA) and Musavat Party
complained that lots-casting in the Azizbekov district of Baku
on 26th August was organized to favour the ruling New
Azerbaijan Party (NAP). A joint statement demanded the
annulment of the results and threatened to appeal to
international bodies if they are not.

On 3rd September the news agency Turan quoted a PFAP
official, Alimmamad Nuriyev, as saying the formation of
electoral commissions had been concluded with "mass
falsifications". He said the PFAP had nominated candidates for
territorial and election commissions in 73 districts in the
republic but its lists of nominees were rejected in 47
districts. He said the executive authorities bore the main
responsibility for this. "As a result of their active
intervention", 70-80 per cent of the commission members for the
1998 presidential elections have been re-elected for the
municipal elections. Nuriyev threatened a PFAP boycott of the
elections if the falsifications continued.

On 6th September the news agency Turan reported a picket
by various opposition parties in protest at the "illegal
formation" of a precinct electoral commission in Khyrdalan
settlement in Absheron District. They alleged "forged" results
of lots-casting in which "precinct electoral commission members
were not elected but appointed by the executive authority".

On 7th September the news agency Sharg reported that three
opposition members had been expelled from the Yasamal district
of Baku precinct electoral commission. The Central Electoral
Commission said the three had submitted falsified documents. A
picket was held against the "unjust decision".

Sources: 'Avrasiya' newspaper, Baku, in Azeri, 2 Sep 99
Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian, 1424 gmt 3 Sep 99
Turan news agency, Bakuu, in Russian, 1740 gmt 6 Sep 99
Sharg news agency, Baku, in Russian, 1156 gmt 7 Sep 99
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