Election Scandal: Blogger Mehman Huseynov Announced Attempt to Bribe Him from Faraj Guliyev

Baku / 03.02.20 / Turan: Mehman Huseynov, a candidate for deputy in the 31st Surakhani second constituency, announced that his rival in the parliamentary elections, the deputy of the previous convocation, the head of the National Revival Movement Party Faraj Guliyev, tried to bribe him. According to Huseynov, Guliyev offered him money in exchange for withdrawing his candidacy in his favor. Huseynov distributed an audio recording of their conversation in social networks.

On the audio recording, the person introduced as Faraj Guliyev says: “I am not saying that you are weak. As a blogger, you are strong and I cannot compete with you. Let's pragmatically agree: get away from the elections in my favor. Do not just leave, but become next to me. At this stage, we (together) will lead the fight.”

To this, Huseynov says that he himself will win the election. Then Guliyev continues: “Don’t waste your potential on such things. I know that you showed dedication in the municipal elections and in prison, I understand that. Think and answer today. You think you are committed, but that is not enough. You think normally, tell me your conditions, and we make sure that you save face ... If we don’t agree, and you make the choice, then I will win the election.

Do not take my offer as a bribe; if you need help for treatment, I can give you 10-15 thousand, and I’m ready to give more,” Guliyev says.

Huseynov told Turan that he had already sent complaints to the prosecutor’s office, the CEC and the District Electoral Commission.

According to him, Faraj Guliyev repeatedly called him and insisted on this meeting, which took place in Guliyev’s office, where he went with his plenipotentiary representative Ulvi Hasanli and another journalist. Guliyev insisted that the meeting should be face to face.

 “I rejected his offer and, for money or position, I will not withdraw my candidacy,” Huseynov said.

“Faraj Guliyev proposed me to become his assistant and to support the election. He further proposed creating a youth NGO and allocating money for this. ‘If you have a team, we will attract them too,’” Huseynov said.

According to the blogger, other candidates in the district, Etibar Aliyev and Orhan Kengerli, demanded an investigation into the bribery attempt.

“I would like the candidate for deputies from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party to also join us,” Huseynov said.   -06B-