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HOT LINE REPORT N1 September
30-October 10, 2000
Electoral Violations Reported to the Azerbaijan Electoral
Rights Protection Hotline
On October 7, SOS- 938397 DER has received
11 reports.
ILLEGALITIES
1. Baku- the REC has refused to register
the candidacy of Ilgar Mammadov, deputy chairman of the National
Independence Party [NIP], candidate from the 2nd
Yasamal election district no.7. It is notable that the REC
has registered 2 candidates on that election district- Fikrat
Ismailov, MP, chairman of Yasamal branch of the YAP, and a
singer Azer Zeynalov. Mammadov stated that while the signatures
of Ismailov and Zeynalov have been checked for some hours,
his signatures have been checked for 8 days. 123 signatures
were declared invalid and its reasons were not explained him.
2. Baku- the REC has refused to register
the candidacy of Tofiq Zulfugarov, former foreign minister
of Azerbaijan, a candidate from Nasimi election district no.27.
The REC has declared some of his signature invalid for being
written the address of the voters as "Mardanov broth.
St." instead of "Mardanov brothers street".
The candidate intends to apply to the court.
- Tovuz- the electoral rights of Prof. Saleh Mammadov,
a candidate from Gadabay election district, former minister
of finance, were violated. Mammadov is an independent candidate.
Gulaga Agazade, a representative of the candidate, stated
that the representative of the opposition was not allowed
to the process of checking the signatures. In the words
of Agazade, the commission has checked 40 lists for an hour
and 40 minutes, and at the end, 150 signatures have been
declared unreliable. He also added that the LEC members
that checked the signatures of Mammadov have been pressured
by the local authorities. They were threatened by dismissing
from their jobs.
- Baku- the REC has refused to register the candidacy
of Nuraddin Mammadli, a candidate from Nizami election district
no.12, chairman of the ADP’s Political Council. The REC
has stated that Mammadli can not take part in the elections,
since he is not a citizen of Azerbaijan. In the opinion
of the candidate, it was Rza Ibadov, a government representative,
who has spread these rumors, and he is a citizen of Azerbaijan.
Mammdali thinks that he is debarred from the elections just
for Rza Ibadov. He stated that he would send his passport
and application to the CEC for approving his rightness.
- Baku- the REC has refused to register the candidacy
of Ali Aliev, a candidate from Narimanov election district
no.24, deputy chairman of the NIP. It is notable that the
experts have checked and approved the signatures collected
in support of the candidate. And 2 days later, the REC has
checked the documents again without the participation of
the candidate’s representative and declared his signatures
invalid. In the words of Aliev, the REC is acting in very
secret conditions, and even does not allow a secretary from
the opposition to sign any document. While Aliev has applied
to the CEC in connection with it, but has not got any reply,
yet. Aliev stated that he would appeal to the court, as
well.
- Qazakh- the electoral rights of Elchin Shikhli,
a candidate from Qazakh election district no. 59, president
of the "Ayna" Press House, were violated since
the beginning of the signature campaign. While the REC had
to give 57 signature lists to the candidate with a pretext
they have finished, instead it gave 54 lists. Shikhli has
presented 2,081 signatures to the REC. in the words of Shikhli,
the REC has declared 62 signatures invalid for not writing
"Qazakh region" and writing only the names of
village. The colleagues of the MNS have called a person
who collected signatures in support of the candidate and
threatened him. That person had to tear the filled lists.
Another person who collected signatures was interrogated
in his home at night. The candidate is going to apply to
the CEC.
- Imishli- the REC has refused to register the candidacy
of Nadir Quliev, a candidate from Imishli election district
no.68, a member of the Popular Front Party. The reasons
are shown as the similarity of the signatures. In the words
of Quliev, Alamdar Mustafaiev, secretary of the REC representing
the "Yurd" fraction of the Popular Front, his
party counterpart, has played a special role in refusal
of registering his candidacy. While casting of lots for
checking the signatures of Guliev was held with his participation,
later Mustafaiev said him that the checking would be held
a day later. But later Guliev learned that the signatures
had been checked on that day. And the 2nd checking
were held without the participation of the candidate.
- Masalli- the REC has refused to register
the candidacy of Piruz Dilanchi, a candidate from Masalli
election district no.77. According to the report of Dilanchi,
the documents of 2 candidates were lost after being presented
to the REC. later those documents have been found in the
home of the brother of another candidate Ahad Abiev who
is supported by the authorities. Another candidate from
that district whose candidacy was also rejected- Tahmaz
Tahmazov has also confirmed the statement of Dilanchi on
the illegalities at the REC. Tahmazov added that 2 members
of the REC has resigned from their posts as a protest of
illegalities.
- Baku- the LEC has refused to register the
candidacy of Nariman Qasimoglu, a candidate from the 1st
Nasimi election district no.26, deputy chairman of the Popular
Front. Qasimoglu stated that his electoral rights have been
violated since the beginning of the electoral campaign.
The LEC has refused to give signature lists to the candidate,
and after the interference of Qudrat Hasanguliev, a representative
of the Popular Front at the CEC, Qasimoglu was given the
lists. A non-official source has given information to Qasimoglu
that the local authorities have ordered the LEC to refuse
registering his candidacy. 1,560 signatures collected in
support of the candidate have been checked and 430 of them
have been declared invalid. Qasimoglu will apply to the
CEC.
- Baku- there has been held a "cleansing"
operation at Sabail REC no.28. Members of the commission
were dismissed from the commission for protesting the falsifications
and illegalities of the REC chairman, while the LEC had
to be formalized on September 26; this district has not
used of the demands of the legislation, yet. There mass
change of places in the districts.
- Baku- the REC has refused to register the candidacy
of Mirvari Qahramanli, a candidate from Nizami-Khatai election
district no.13, co-chairman of the Committee of Protection
of Oil Industry Workers’ Rights. Qahramanli stated that
there was held 2nd casting lots after 34 signatures
were declared invalid. The addresses of 5 invalid signatures
have been written wrong. The housing departments stated
that the persons living in those addresses had been moved
from their houses by the sentence of the court. The candidate
said that the persons collecting signatures for her used
of the passports, and there was shown that they registered
in these addresses. In the words of Qahramanli, the authorities
want to be elected of Sirus Tabrizli from that district.
Qahramanli has given information to the foreign embassies
and international organizations in Baku about the violation
of her electoral rights.
On October 9, SOS- 938397 Hotline has
received 10 reports.
ILLEGALITIES
1. Qabala- Akif Kerimov, who wanted
to register his candidacy from Qabala election district no.61,
has faced with the pressures of Alibala Mammadov, head of
the local government. The REC did not want to give Kerimov
signature lists. It is notable that Kerimov is a brother of
the well-known Azeri singer Flora Kerimova. Kerimov could
only register his application until now. The chairman of the
REC Oqtay Hajiev told him that the signature lists could be
given him only after the agreement of the local government
leadership. Kerimov has appealed to Sabail district Court.
2. Lachin- the REC has refused to
register the candidacy of Eldaniz Quliev, a candidate from
Lachin-Kalbajar election district no.71, a film dramatist,
member of the Writers’ Union. In the words of Quliev, on October
3, the REC members told him that everything was normal and
that he would be registered. But the members of the commission
have been ordered by the head of the local government before
the session of the REC. Quliev stated that the documents of
the REC on registering his candidacy have been changed and
his rights have been violated. 242 of his signatures have
been declared invalid. The REC has refused to register his
candidacy. Quliev is going to appeal to the CEC.
3. Baku- the REC has refused to register
the candidacy of Qalabey Agalarov, a candidate from Nizami-Khatai
election district no.13, a member of the Musavat. The candidate
has presented 2,223 signatures to the REC. Agalarov stated
that the chairman of the REC Nurali Rahimov has been given
order by Eldar Azizov, head of the local government. According
to a non-official information, the local government has ordered
the REC chairman to register only 3 candidates. One of the
registered 2 candidates in that district is Sirus Tebrizli,
MP. The signatures of the candidates from that district-Eldar
Salaiev, and academician, former deputy Adalat Rahimli, right
protector Miravari Qahramanli, and Galabey Agalarov have been
declared invalid with the same pretexts. According to the
report of Agalarov, while voters whose signatures were declared
invalid have confirmed their signatures again, this time the
REC members have declared other signatures invalid. The candidates
intend to appeal to the CEC.
4. Ganja- the REC has refused to register
the candidacy of Yusif Bagirzade, MP, and a candidate from
Kapaz-Nizami election district no.33. According the report
of the ADP’s election headquarter, the signatures collected
in support of Bagirzade have been declared invalid without
any checking.
5. Baku- the REC has refused to register
the candidacy of Elkhan Ismailov, a member of the ADP, a candidate
from the 1st Yasamal election district no.6. The
election headquarter of the party reported that the REC has
declared the signatures of the candidate invalid without checking
them. The report also stated that the independent and YAP
members of the REC have confirmed that they have not registered
the candidate for being a member of the ADP.
6. Baku- the REC has refused to register
the candidacy of Yaqub Mammadov, former chairman of the parliament,
a candidate from the 1st Nasimi election district
no.26. 738 of 2,300 signatures collected in support of Mammadov
have been declared invalid. A lawyer of the candidate Rafiq
Nagiev said that the checking process was held not in the
REC, but at the building of Nesimi district government with
the participation and interference of the local officials.
He also added that the REC did not give them any document
in connection with it. The candidate has appealed to the CEC.
7. Baku- the REC has refused to register
the candidacy of Ahmad Oruj, a candidate from the 2nd
Narimanov election district no.25, chairman of the Party "Azadliq"
[Freedom]. In the words of Oruj, after checking the signature
lists, the REC has declared 193 signatures wrong for being
out of dislocation. But while checking 81 signatures together
with the representative of the Housing Exploitation Department
it has been revealed that these signatures were really the
voters of the district. 2 members of the REC representing
the Popular Front have issued a special opinion by protesting
the decision of the REC. but nevertheless, the REC has refused
to register the candidacy of Ahmad Oruj with the majority
of voice. Rafael Allahverdiev, Mayor of Baku, is also a candidate
from that district. In the opinion of Oruj, the main reason
of refusal of his candidacy is connected with it. It is notable
that the candidacy of a lawyer Aslan Ismailov was also rejected
in that district. Oruj has appealed to the CEC with a letter
of compliant.
8. Baku- the REC has refused to register
the candidacy of Ehtiram Aliev, a candidate from Binagadi-Qaradagh
election district no.23, a member of the Party Musavat. Another
candidates from that district are Haji Mader, MP, and Qorkhmaz
Ibrahimov, a representative of the "Yurd" fraction
of the Popular Front. There is not a candidate of the authorities
in this district. In the words of Aliev, while his signatures
were more than the signatures of the other 2 candidates, the
other 2 candidates have been registered. He stated that a
member of the REC and a close relative of Ibrahimov, and a
member of the "Yurd" fraction have voted against
him. The candidate is going to appeal to the CEC.
9. Salyan- the REC has refused to
register the candidacy of Valeh Hummatoglu, a candidate from
Salyan election district no.84, a member of the Political
Council of the Citizen’s Solidarity Party. Hummatolgu was
told at the REC that there is a special order on not registering
him. There is also the name of the head of Salyan regional
government among the candidates in that district. In the words
of Hummatoglu, the main culprit of refusing his candidacy
is head of the local government. Hummatoglu stated that 10
signatures of the head of local government have been lost
during the collection of signatures. And the chairman of the
REC Sadiqov has protested of giving new lists and that is
why was dismissed from his post. The candidate has appealed
to the CEC concerning the illegalities at the REC.
10. Baku- Tofiq Yaqublu, member of
the Musavat Party, a candidate from Binaqadi election district
no.21, has contacted SOS- 938397 hotline in connection with
violation of his electoral rights. A colleague of the hotline
went to the incident place together with some journalists
and revealed the following illegalities: the REC has not provided
the participation of the candidate’s representative in the
process of checking the signatures of the candidate. Nevertheless,
the working group of the REC has defined only 14 of the checked
320-signature invalid. But instead of registering his candidacy,
the REC has prepared a false protocol, as if 38 signatures
were declared invalid. But 4 members of the working group
have refused to sign that protocol. The journalists, as well
as a colleague of the hotline have faced with insults. The
chairman of the REC has invited the police to his office for
taking the journalist from there. But the police have not
used of the claim of the REC chairman for being it illegal.
On October 10, SOS- 938397 Hotline
has received 15 reports.
ILLEGALITIES
1. Baku- the REC has refused to register
the candidacy of Yaqub Abbasov, a candidate from Binagadi
election district no.21, chairman of the Party of Democratic
Path. The candidate has explained this act with its political
affiliation. Abbasov has appealed to the CEC.
2. Hajiqabul- Samid Samidov, an independent
candidate from Hajiqabul-Salyan election district no.94, has
complied on the decision of the REC. 9 of his signature lists
have been considered unreliable for being signed with the
new passport of the Republic. Samidov stated that the illegalities
have been made by the order of Agababa Gasimov, head of the
regional government. While Samidov has appealed to the REC,
CEC, and regional court on September 1 and 5, 2000, about
Shakikhan Zeynalov, a representative of the regional authorities,
that made obstacles on collecting his signatures, he has not
got any response, yet. Samidov has applied to the CEC on the
violation of his electoral rights.
3. Qobustan- Mazahir Qayibov, a member
of Qobustan-Siyazan-Khizi election district no.62 from the
Popular Front, were not allowed to the process of checking
the signatures of the candidates. According to his report,
the members of the REC from the NIP have faced with the same
obstacle, as well. Qayibov thinks that the REC has made this
obstacle for hiding shortcomings that can appear in the signatures
of Zeynab Khanlarova, a famous singer of Azerbaijan, candidate
from that district, and Solmaz Mehralieva, a candidate from
that district, former employee of the local government. Because
firstly, Mehralieva has collected signature in support of
Khanlarova, and later given her own candidacy. Since the law
does not allow a candidate to participate in the campaign
of collection signatures, the signatures collected by Mehralieva
must be declared unreliable.
4. Goychay- the REC has refused to
register the candidacy of Bakhtiyar Zeynalov, a candidate
from Goychay election district no.75, chairman of the local
branch of the Popular Front. The REC has declared 277 of his
signature invalid. In the words of Zeynalov, neither the local
authorities nor the president Heidar Aliev is guilty in this
act. In his opinion, the high ranked officials by using of
the illness of Aliev are regulating the registration of the
candidates haw they want. Zeynalov has also protested for
creating exceptional possibilities for the candidate and writer
Anar. Zeynalov has appealed to the CEC.
5. Shamkir- oppositional candidates
from Shamkir village election district no.100 have complied
on holding unequal election campaign in the district. Refusal
of registering the oppositional candidates [Mahir Asadov,
member of the ADP, and Zahid Abbasov, member of the Musavat]
and registering the candidates of the authorities in that
district have been carried out without informing the representatives
of the opposition. In general, all the works of this district
are held not in Zayam village, where situates the REC, but
in Shamkir city. And the doors of the building where situates
the commission are always closed. The representatives of the
local authorities have carried out the campaign of collecting
signatures for the government candidates only by copying the
passport indications to the lists. In the report is said that
the signatures for the candidate Eldaniz Qafarov, chief of
the Shamkir region privatization office, were also collected
falsely and his candidacy has been run for an artificial alternativeness.
The signature lists of the candidate have not been shown to
the oppositional representatives in the REC, regardless of
their strong efforts.
6. Kurdamir- the REC has refused to
register the candidacy of Vaqif Sultanli, a candidate from
Kurdamir election district no.72. A professor of the Baku
State University, Sultanli is an editor-in-chief of the magazine
"Araz" published in Sweden. 356 of 2,242 signatures
collected in support of Sultanly have been declared unreliable.
Members of the commission from the Popular Front- Firudin
Zarbaliev and Mehman Khankishiev have refused to sign the
protocol on the refusal of registering the candidate. In the
words of Sultanli, in difference of 5 YAP candidates registered
in the region, the process of checking his signatures have
been held bias and by order. He stated that the members of
the commission could declare only 129 signatures invalid after
11 days of checking and the rest 227 signatures were declared
unreliable as if the citizens were not registered. The candidate
has appealed to the CEC.
7. Baku- the REC has refused
to register the candidacy of Isakhan Ashurov, a candidate
from the 2nd Narimanov election district no.25,
a member of the Musavat Party. In the words of his lawyer,
the REC has shown the reason of refusal as having wrong signatures.
In Ashurov’s words, the REC has declared some of his signature
invalid for not belonging to the voters of that district.
In his lawyer’s opinion, the main reason of refusal is being
a member of the Musavat Party. Ashurov intends to appeal to
the presdient of the country concerning the illegalities.
8. Lankaran- the REC has refused to
register the candidacy of Elchin Mirzabeyli, a candidate from
Lankaran election district no.35, a member of the Citizen’s
Solidarity Party. The main reason has been shown as not writing
right the dates at the lists. The REC has registered only
the deputy head of the local government and his relative,
Agakerim Sharifov, and one candidate from the NIP.
9. Nakhichevan- the REC has registered
the candidacy of Haji Ibrahim Nehramli, a candidate from Babek-Shahbuz
election district no.4. On October 9, the commission has presented
a candidate’s card to the candidate. But an hour later the
chairman of the REC has contacted with Haji Ibrahimli and
informed that Vasif Talibov, chairman of Nakhichevan Supreme
Assembly, has ordered that he have to withdraw his candidacy.
The chairman of the REC told Haji Ibrahimli that if he does
not refuse of his candidacy, then he would check his signatures
again and declare them invalid. The supporters of the candidate
have gathered in front of the REC and Supreme Assembly. While
the candidate has, several times, tried to meet with Talibov
in connection with the issue, Talibov has not received him.
Haji Ibrahimli has appealed to the CEC.
10. Nakhichevan- the electoral rights
of Chingiz Rahimov, a candidate from Julfa-Ordubad election
district no. 5, national coordinator of the Azerbaijan Assistance
Program on the Control of Drugs, doctor of medical sciences,
were violated. On September 5, 2000, the REC has accepted
his application. On September 28, 2000, the REC has declared
14 of 2,300 signatures invalid, and issued a decision on registering
his candidacy. After the interference of the law-enforcement
agencies, the documents of the candidate have been send to
the experts again. And there has been issued the 2nd
decision on liquidating the candidacy of Rahimov with the
participation of 6 REC members. Deputy head of the local government
took part in that meeting, as well. 8 member of the REC have
confirmed that the 2nd decision was illegal. A
lawyer of the candidate Aslan Ismailov has explained this
incident also with unsuitableness in the election law, as
well.
11. Baku- the REC has registered
the candidacy of Ahmad Qashamoglu, a candidate from the 2nd
Yasamal election district no.7, doctor of philosophical sciences.
It is notable that Qashamoglu has headed the scientific center
of the parliament 5 years, and author of a number of conceptions
in the field of preparing the legislation on the scientific
bases. While non-of the 2,298 signatures collected in support
of Qashamoglu has been considered invalid, the REC has refused
to register his candidacy.
12. Zangilan- the REC has registered
the candidacy of Kamran Maharramov, a candidate from Zangilan-Qubadli
election district no.86, chairman of the Party "Azadliq".
Maharramov stated that 319 of his 2,180 signatures have been
declared invalid. In the opinion of the experts, even the
signatures of his parents and brothers were declared invalid.
In the words of the candidate, his alternative, MP, Imamverdi
Ismailov has ordered not to register his candidacy. The chairman
of the REC Sabir Hajiev has informed about it to Maharramov.
Maharramov does not intend to appeal to the court since he
does not hope for a just sentence of the court.
13. Qusar- Aydin Manguliev, a candidate
from Qusar election district no.65, reported that there are
made obstacles to the pre-election campaign of the oppositional
candidates. In his words, the lights in the region are turned
off on purpose when the oppositional candidates speak on TV.
14. Qakh- the REC has registered the
candidacy of Vaqif Hajibeyli, a candidate from Qakh-Zakatala
election district no.60, chairman of the party "Ahrar".
According to the checking held by the working group of the
REC, 2,006 of 2,230 signatures collected in support of Hajibeyli
have been declared right. But signatures in 4 lists have been
declared invalid for not corresponding the writing of the
person that collected signatures with the person that filled
passport details in the lists. Hajibeyli has appealed to the
CEC in connection with it.
QUESTIONING
15. Gadabay- Sabir Mammadov, a candidate
from Gadabay election district no.73, has complied on the
formalization of the REC illegally. Mammadov stated that 2
members of the REC are members of the municipality. While
the secretary of the REC and candidates has, several times,
appealed to the CEC concerning the question, the CEC has stayed
indifferent to the violation of the law. Mammadov has contacted
with the SOS-938397 hotline and asked for a legal assistance.
The candidate has been given a corresponding legal advice.
The Reports:
September 30- October 3
October 4 - October 6
Introduction
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Posted October 19, 2000 © Eurasianet
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