Opposition asserts that presidential election in Azerbaijan was illegitimate

Members of the country's oppositional parties insist that the October 15 election of the head of Azerbaijan was not free, fair, honest or transparent and did not meet the respective international standards.

This has been declared at today's press conference held by the leaders of the organizations-members of the Opposition Cooperation Centre (OCC), namely, the Parties "Musavat", of People's Front of Azerbaijan (PPFA), "Citizens and Development" (PCD), Liberal Party (LPA) and the Public Forum "In the Name of Azerbaijan".

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that the leader of the PPFA Ali Kerimli has stated that the authorities used new technologies of falsifications. This, as he said, has dispelled illusions of some international organizations that new technical means and technologies are capable to ensure the democratic character of elections.

Thus, according to Mr Kerimli, the web-cameras installed at polling stations were used to force electors into voting. With the same aim, notifications were used about the place of voting. The employees of state institutions were asked at their workplaces to present these notifications with stamps of polling stations in confirmation of the fact that they had really voted.

The exit-polls were held by workers of budget-funded agencies, who did not even know for which organization they did it. "No technical innovations and technologies can ensure fair elections, if the essence of the regime is antidemocratic," said Ali Kerimli, addressing international bodies.

According to Ali Kerimli, despite the statements of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) that the voter turnover has exceeded 75 percent, actually it was no more than 20.

Let us note here that the CIS observation mission of observers from the CIS has recognized the presidential election in Azerbaijan to be legitimate and open.

In its turn, the IA "News-Azerbaijan" gives the outcomes of the poll held by the Coalition named "Free, Transparent and Fair Elections" on the day of presidential election. According to their data, Ilham Aliev has won 85.7 percent of votes.

We remind you that the incumbent President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev is a confident leader at the October 15 presidential election. According to the preliminary data obtained from 70 percent of all the polling stations, a total of 89.04 percent of the voters have cast their ballots for him.