26 September 2008, 21:47
Observers state violations during Azerbaijani election campaign
Today, the Centre for Election Monitoring (CEM) has promulgated its interim report about the first monitoring stage of the presidential election appointed on October 15 in Azerbaijan.
Anar Mamedli, Director of the CEM, has stated that the first stage of the long-term monitoring process of the election campaign covers the period from August 1 to September 20. At this stage, the monitoring of the pre-election situation was held in 98 out of the total number of 125 constituencies, including the stage of nominating candidates and registration of them.
"The monitoring results are giving grounds to assert that the so-called 'administrative resources' are used during the election campaign, and it causes serious concern," said Mr Mamedli.
Violations of the law have also been registered during voters' signing-in in support of presidential candidates.
Basically, the facts were revealed, when workers of local executive bodies had urged voters to put their signatures in support of the incumbent President Ilham Aliev, candidate from party in power "Eni Azerbaijan", the leader of the CEM has continued.
Cases have also been fixed, when under various pretexts citizen's IDs (internal passports of Azerbaijani citizens) were taken away from the voters for further use in sighing-in in favour of this or that presidential candidate.
Author: Faik Medzhid, CK correspondent
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