Musavat Leader Candidates Face Pressure

Baku /10.04.19/Turan: Candidates for the chair of the Musavat party are subjected to pressure during election meetings in the regions of the country.

On October 3, residents of the Khachmaz region Ilyas Yasinov, Pamazan Aliyev and Sohrab Amrakhov were summoned to the local police after they attended a meeting with the head of the Musavat party Arif Hajili in the Khachmaz region (157 km north of Baku). The police recommended them not to get involved with the opposition and stay away so as not to have problems.

Musavat"s two other candidates, Yadigar Sadigli and Tofig Yagublu, were allowed into the Gabala region (200 km west of Baku).

"Employees of the Gabala police, including the deputy chief and the head of the criminal investigation department, took me to the police station with Yadigar Sadigly.

After the actual arrest, we were simply deported from the district," Tofig Yagublu wrote on his Facebook page.

The Musavat party, in its statement, condemned the actions of the police.

"The authorities are worried that the Musavat party is holding a congress based on democratic principles. The repressive regime, which is particularly concerned about the gathering of people in the regions and the political debate, hinders the meetings of candidates for Musavat"s leaders, the statement said.

Musavat Party will hold its 9th congress on October 12. There are three candidates to the post of party leader: Arif Hajili, Yadigar Sadigli and Tofig Yagublu. -03B-