EMAG on registration of presidential candidates

Baku/12.01.24/Turan: The Election Monitoring and Analysis Group (EMAG) has issued a statement on the completion of registration of presidential candidates for the 7 February early elections.

Some of the candidates were not registered and expressed their dissatisfaction. Namizad Safarov, for example, complained that he had not been received by CEC members and that he had received signature sheets with a delay.

Another candidate, Matlab Mutallimli, complained of late consideration of his applications and obstacles in collecting signatures, intimidation of his representatives and police pressure on them.

Another candidate, Sarvan Kerimov, claimed that the election campaign (by incumbent President Ilham Aliyev - see Turan) had started prematurely and intends to appeal to the court.

The founders of EMAG were Mirvari Gahramanly, chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Rights of Oil Workers; Rafig Ismail, head of the NGO "For Civil Society"; and Osman Gunduz, head of the "Multimedia Centre".

Of the 17 presidential candidates approved by the CEC, only seven submitted documents and the required number of voter signatures to be registered as candidates. All seven were registered. -06В-