"Musavat" demands the cancellation of the referendum results

The referendum on September 26 was held without the need toexplane to the people  the proposed amendments to the Constitution, without the expertise of the Venice Commission, and in an atmosphere of  absence of free political competition and equal opportunities for promotion. The vote was not free and fair, and was not  based  on international standards, reads the preliminary conclusion  by the “Musavat” party on the referendum on September 26. The report shows that the campaign for the referendum was accompanied by harassment of opposition activists, the arrest on criminal charges and administrative law.

On a far-fetched criminal charges were arrested the executive secretary of the REAL  Movement Natig Jafarli, the NIDA activist Elgiz Gahraman,  activists of  PPFA Faig Amirli and Fuad Ahmadli.

Activists of the party "Musavat" in various regions of the country were under pressure during the collection of signatures in support of the campaign group "Respublika", which as a result has not been registered by the CEC.

The electoral law, contrary to the previous recommendations of the Venice Commission, ODIHR and other organizations has not been improved: composition of election commissions were not balanced and remained under the control of the authorities, were not altered the complaints procedure.

There are problems in the voter lists. At the time, as State Statistics Committee reported on 6, 6 million voters, according to the CEC their number -. 5.1 million people. More than 250 observers from the "Musavat" were  denied registration for the monitoring throughout the country. However, there were reports on violations of voters and non-party observers.

According to "Musavat" real turnout at the referendum was 10-12%, and cannot be held because of the absence of a quorum of 25%. On election day, the facts of mass use of administrative resources were recorded, government institutions were busy delivering their employees on the site. Under pressure from the authorities, business structures were forced to send their employees to areas.  "Carousel" was used in all the constituencies. Numerous cases of ballot stuffing in boxes by the commission members or outsiders were noted.

Bulletins were issued to persons who are not relevant to the polling station. The results of voting protocols were filled outside polling stations, and copies were not posted at the polling stations. In some areas votes were not counted.

Before the referendum there was not a democratic election environment in the country.

In view of the above mentioned, the "Musavat"  believes that the referendum did not take place, and the vote was not free and fair.  The announced  results of the referendum  do not reflect the will of the people.

 The absence of absolute majority  of electors in the referendum shows that  people  are against the concentration of power in the hands of clans, and  people are committed to republican values.  On this basis, "Musavat" demanded the cancellation of the results of  the referendum  on 26 September.—06D-