[31.01.2009]
On January 31, Central Election Commission conducted a meeting under the chairmanship of Mazahir Panahov.
The appeals submitted to Central Election Commission were considered at the meeting and concerned with referendum appointed for March 18, 2009. The member of commission Rovshan Ismayilov informed about the appeal submitted by the authorized representative of the referendum initiative group “Respublikachilar” Gulaga Aslanly. According to information of the commission’s member, the author of the appeal claimed that on January 21, 23 and 24 of current year, in the different areas of the republic (Jalilabad, Khachmaz, Ismayilli, Lenkeran, Neftchala regions and Sumgayit city) police and local executive authorities interfered with the activity of persons collecting signatures (Azer Nagiyev, Mehman Ismayilov, Namig Akberly, Fehreddin Abbas) in support of referendum initiative group mentioned above by withdrawing and spoiling the signatures sheets and in spite of informing constituency election (referendum) commissions on the events took place in Lenkeran and Neftchala regions, it did not attempt to stop these actions; so the authorized representative requested to undertake appropriate measures on the persons committed illegal actions, as well as to provide with new signature sheets instead of spoiled ones.
The expert group established within the Central Election (Referendum) Commission investigated the appeal of the authorized representative and determined that the part of cases indicated in current appeal on the events took place assumingly in Jalilabad, Khachmaz, Ismayilli region and Sumgayit city were mentioned in appeals submitted by Gulaga Aslanly to Central Election (Referendum) Commission on January 21, 23 and 24 of January, 2009 and members of expert group established within Central Election (Referendum) Commission investigated them and at the meeting of Central Election (Referendum) Commission it was decided not to satisfy the appeals due to lack of grounds. Regarding cases took place in Lenkeran and Neftchala, the appeal did not contain any information on the place, time, address and persons committed illegal actions, there was not enough evidences provided on assumed violations during the investigation and no information and complaints were submitted to relevant constituency commissions. No cases on interference with the process of signatures collecting, withdrawal of signatures and spoiling of signature sheets by police and local executive authorities were registered within the territory of referred constituencies. The authorized representative did not provide any evidences on this issue.
Due to the presence of the relevant decisions of authorized bodies on the part of cases mentioned in the appeal, it was considered impossible to examine essence of the same issues at second time.
Thus, Central Election Commission made a decision not to satisfy the appeal due to lack of grounds.
Other current issues were considered at the meeting.
The representatives of NDI, IFES and media representatives participated at the meeting of Central Election Commission.
CEC Press Service
[30.01.2009]
On January 30, plenipotentiary ambassador Ann Derse met with the chairman of Central Election Commission Mazahir Panahov.
As a supporter of democracy development in Azerbaijan, ambassador informed about significant role of its development for the US and inquired about activities of Central Election Commission concerned with preparation and conduct of referendum appointed for March 18, 2009.
Chairman of the Commission mentioned about the sincere and efficient cooperation between the US Embassy and Central Election Commission and was very pleased with the development and straightening of these relations. He gave detailed information on implemented activities concerned with the approval of Calendar Plan and steps undertaken by the commission in accordance with the Plan.
During the conversation, the quest asked to provide her with detailed information on voter education programs and training programs for lower level election commissions. Chairman gave detailed information about implementation of wide scale educational programs and noted that lover level election commissions were provided with the published part of constitutional text to be discussed by referendum in accordance with the draft Referendum Act “on amendments and changes to the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan” and draft act on referendum in order to distribute them among voters. M. Panahov gave information about future steps to be undertaken.
Ambassador thanked for sincere meeting and stressed the confidence in continuation of cooperation between two countries.
CEC Press Service
[29.01.2009]
On January 29 Central Election Commission conducted a meeting under the chairmanship of Mazahir Panahov.
At the beginning, the CEC’s secretary Natig Mammadov informed about registration of referendum campaign group “Tereggi”. It was mentioned that the working group established within the CEC checked the submitted signature sheets and other necessary documents and defined grounds for registration the same group. The Commission made a decision to register the above mentioned campaign group.
Then, the issue on registration of the initiative group “Abad kend” was considered and a decision on refusal of registration had been made.
The issue on consideration of appeal submitted to Central Election Commission by the authorized representative of initiative group “Respublikachilar” was mentioned at the meeting; the expert group established within the CEC conducted comprehensive investigation, sent the inquires to relevant instances and it was defined that the facts indicated in appeals did not find their confirmation. The appeal was not satisfied due to lack of grounds.
Current issues were considered during the meeting as well.
The representatives of OSCE office in Baku, the US Embassy, NDI, IRI, IFES and media representatives participated at the meeting.
CEC Press Service
[28.01.2009]
Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan (CEC) states that the preparations to popular vote (referendum) appointed to 18 March 2009 are being implemented in accordance with the approved Calendar Plan. Nowadays, 14 initiative groups received signature sheets by applying to the CEC for being registered as referendum campaign groups and two of them – “Yeni Azerbayjan” (“New Azerbaijan”) and “Shahar” (“City”) have already been registered as campaign groups. The documents submitted to the CEC by 5 initiative groups are precisely checked by the specialists of the Working Group that function under the CEC. And 92 out of 121 initiative groups covering nearly 100 thousands initiators who applied to the Constituency Election Commissions were registered as campaign groups. It becomes clear from a number of appeals entered CEC that signature collecting campaign is the center of attention for country population. At the present, signature collection campaign is continued by the initiative groups and in general, the campaign is conducted according to legal requirements.
Up to present, CEC received more than 600 telegrams by Grey-beards Council, Veterans Council, various regional departments of Garabagh war veterans’ organizations, martyrs’ families, groups of educated men, culture men and other unions, as well as individual citizens. The people who applied to the CEC demonstrated their support to the conduct of the forthcoming popular vote related to making amendments and changes to the Constitution and stated that they would take active part in this process and denounce the challenges against referendum. Signature collecting representatives of “Republicans” and Movement for Garabagh and Republic” initiative groups who were collecting signature in Yevlakh, Goranboy, Imishli, Gakh, Mingachevir, Oghuz, Aghstafa, Neftchala and other regions applied to the CEC in written form that though they were not faced with any obstacle in signature collection campaign, voters and even the people in close relation with them refused to sign though they made their efforts for some days, and consequently, by arriving at the conclusion that continuing this process will not reach any perspective, they returned signature sheets.
We would like to note with regret that a number of appeals entered Public Information Center of the CEC, its “hot line, web address, as well as the appeals entered by nearly 400 voters from Aghdash, Jalilabad, Lerik, Zerdab, Salyan and other regions include that voters are deceived by illegal ways by some people collecting signatures. The voters who afterwards understood that they had been deceived, in their written appeal submitted to the CEC require to consider their signatures invalid.
A few days before, CEC Chairman addressed to Azerbaijan popularity on the importance of being conscientious in signature collection campaign and this address was welcomed by consent and estimated positively. By addressing to referendum initiative groups and voters once more, CEC called them to strictly abide by the requirements of electoral legislation while collecting signatures or giving signatures, he also states that deceiving voters y illegal ways causes law results and if such facts find their legal prove, then this may be basis for considering the collected signature invalid and refusing the registration of the initiative group.
CEC Press Service
[27.01.2009]
On January 27, 2009, Central Election commission conducted a meeting under the chairmanship of Mazahir Panahov.
At the beginning, CEC’s secretary Natig Mammadov informed about registration of the referendum campaign group “Sheher”. It was mentioned that the working group established within the CEC checked the submitted signature sheets and other necessary documents and defined grounds for registration the same group.
Then, the Commission made a decision to approve members of CEC with consultative voting rights, as well as to register authorized representatives and agents of referendum campaign group “Yeni Azerbaijan”.
Appeals submitted to Central Election Commission were considered during the meeting. It was mentioned that expert group established within CEC and consisting of lawyers sent inquires to relevant instances, conducted comprehensive investigation on submitted appeals and as a result neither of cases indicated in appeals find their confirmation. A decision not to satisfy the appeals due to lack of grounds was made.
Central Election Commission made changes to the composition of Sharur Con.EC # 2.
Current issues were considered as well.
The representatives of NDI, IFES and media representatives participated at the meeting.
CEC Press Service
[24.01.2009]
On January 24, Central Election (Referendum) Commission conducted a meeting under the chairmanship of Mazahir Panahov.
The appeals submitted to Central Election (Referendum) Commission were considered at the meeting concerned with referendum appointed on March 18, 2009. The member of Central Election Commission Ramiz Ibrahimov informed on the appeal submitted to CEC by the authorized representative of referendum initiative group “Respublikachilar” Gulaga Aslanly. The appeal indicated that on January 19 of current year, Ogtay Zeynalov and Jahangir Amirkhanly who collect signatures in support of the referendum initiative group mentioned above were invited to the Nizami district police department of Ganja city which also interfered with the process of signatures collecting and requested to undertake appropriate measures defined by law on it. As a result of investigation of the appeal of authorized representative, it was determined that on January 19, 2009 these persons were invited to Nizami district police department due to the reasons not concerned with signatures collecting in support of the referendum campaign group. Thus, they were invited to the police department due to official complaints of citizens concerned with campaign organized in tea house of Ganja city park “Khan Bagi” on inviting citizens to sign to conduct public events against Israel in Palestinian - Israeli conflict. So, the appeal of the authorized representative of referendum initiative group “Respublikachilar” Gulaga Aslanly did not find its confirmation during the investigation. He did not provide any evidences on this issue. The Central Election Commission made a decision according to which the appeal was not satisfied due to lack of grounds. Then, the member of Central Election (Referendum) Commission Gabil Orucov informed about other appeals submitted by the authorized representative of the referendum initiative group “Respublikachilar” Gulaga Aslanly according to which during the process of signatures collecting by the members of above mentioned referendum initiative group, the representative of village executive authority Ayyar Guliyev, chairman of municipality Rafig Haciyev and field inspector Chingiz Mammadov pressured the residents of Tezekend village of Jalilabad region; the authorized representative requested to undertake appropriate measures defined by law on it. As a result of investigation, it was determined that the resident of Tezekend village Shahbaz Garayev providing Bahtiyar Garayev with signature sheets, gave him instructions to collect signatures from citizens. Based on instructions of his father, Bahtiyar Garayev collected signatures from one part of residents of Tezekend village explaining it as if they are collected in support of his father to be elected as a deputy, as well as for establishing a representation of Tezekend village separated from the composition of Uctepe executive representation, for returning money invested during the soviet time and for liberalization of Garabakh. After the village residents realized that they were cheated, they informed village executive representative, chairman of municipality and filed inspector on it. At the same time, no pressure was made either on the citizens put their signatures nor on the persons representing interests of relevant initiative group.
Central Election Commission made a decision not to satisfy the appeal of the authorized representative due to lack of grounds.
Current issues were considered during the meeting.
The representatives of IFES Azerbaijan and mass media representatives participated at the meeting.
CEC
Press Service
[22.01.2009]
On January 22, 2009, the Central Election Commission conducted a meeting under chairmanship of Mazahir Panahov.
At the beginning, the meeting protocols adopted on December 30, 2008 and January 8, 2009 were approved.
After that, the CEC’s secretary Natig Mammadov informed about registration of the campaign group “Yeni Azerbaijan”. It was mentioned, that the working group established within the CEC checked the submitted signature sheets and other necessary documents and defined grounds for registration the campaign group. The commission made a decision to register the mentioned campaign group.
At the commission’s meeting, some draft normative acts were approved.
A decision on rules for preparation final protocols by election (referendum) commissions and their number was approved at the meeting.
In addition to that, according to CEC’s decision, the number of notifications on informing voters on the place and time of the voting shall be 5 000 000 which should be prepared at the Printing house of the Apparatus of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Central Election Commission made changes to the composition of some constituency election commissions.
Other current issues were considered during the meeting.
The representatives of OSCE office in Baku, the US Embassy, IFES as well as media representatives participated at the meeting.
CEC Press Service
[08.01.2009]
Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan (CEC) conducted its session headed by Mr. Mazahir Panahov on January 8, 2009.
Firstly, session minute dated on November 13, 2008 was approved.
Later, Mr. Natig Mammadov, CEC Secretary reported on the establishment of the Working Group to check the accuracy of the information included in signature sheets and other documents submitted by initiative groups on referendum. Commission decided to establish Working Group consisting of the experts of Court Expertise Center of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Interior Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ministry of Tax of the Republic of Azerbaijan in order to check the accuracy of the information included in signature sheets and other documents. Mr. Ilham Mammadov, CEC Commissioner was appointed head of the Group.
CEC also adopted decision on the establishment of Expert Group consisting of 9 persons in order to investigate the complaints from actions (inactions) and decisions violating citizens’ suffrage.
At the session of the Commission, drafts of some normative acts were approved.
CEC made amendments in the compositions of Yasamal third Con.EC # 17, Shirvan Con.EC # 46 and Fuzuli Con.EC # 84.
At the session, current issues were also considered.
At the CEC session, representatives of OSCE Baku office, the USA embassy, International Foundation for Election Systems and mass media also took part.
CEC Press Service
