Participants of the opposition rally put forward new demands to the authorities (updated)

Baku/09.11.13/: The rally of the opposition National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF)   at the stadium "Mehsul" was held at the emotional upheaval campaign with slogans demanding the resignation of President Ilham Aliyev.

PFPA leader Ali Kerimli called today's meeting a historic event. "Today the country is ruled by the evil. Usually, such regimes suppress voice of the people. However, in Azerbaijan, despite massive repression, the people have come to the square protesting evil, it is - a phenomenon," said Kerimli.

The authorities wanted to intimidate the people by repression and force the Azerbaijani society to silence, but did not manage despite the arrests of activists, journalists and bloggers. "By our struggle we have shown that we do not   consider these people criminals, we rather protect them."

 "You wanted to frighten people by repression? No, you cannot turn Azerbaijan into North Korea. Dictatorship will not be allowed in Azerbaijan. We will protest until all political prisoners are released," Kerimli said, referring to the authorities. "This action will give impetus to the international protection of political prisoners," said Kerimli. Member of the National Council Namizad Safarov said in his speech that the country is under complete lawlessness.

"People have gathered here today to show they do not want to be slaves and sycophants, they want to live as free people with dignity," Safarov said.

Another member of the NCDF, lawyer Vidadi Mirkamal, said that when after the presidential election in 2013 the citizens did not vote for this regime, the hatred of the authorities to the people even more increased.

«Falsification of elections was confirmed by the ODIHR. Those who stated  about  falsification now are  under arrest - Anar Mammadov, Bashir Suleymanli, Leyla Yunus, Intigam Aliyev. The authorities accuse the activists of civil society of tax evasion, but who is responsible for $ 48 billion stolen from the people? " said Mirkamal.

 The leader of the  NCDF, Jamil Hasanli, claiming more than 100 political prisoners in Azerbaijan, said that   in the countries under absolute monarchy there is not such number of the arrested for criticism the government.

Regarding social issues, Hasanli noted that in Soviet times for its scholarship students could buy a ticket to Moscow, and now scholarships  are not enough even to travel to the regions of Azerbaijan.

Pensions  are  not enough for medicines.  The Azerbaijanis  have to go to neighboring Iran for treatment. Despite the potential of agriculture, farmers live in poverty, he said.

Hasanli noted  the need for electoral reforms and changing  the makeup  of the  election commissions to ensure the confidence of the people in the elections. During the campaign people raised slogans: "Sign Association Agreement with the European Union," "Change the Electoral Code," "Put an end to political repressions."

According to a member of the Committee of the rallies, the deputy chairman of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Fuad Gahramanli, approximately  7,000 people participated in the  rally.

 The rally resulted in the adoption of a resolution  demanding: the release of political prisoners, providing political freedom, stop the pressure on the parties, NGOs and the media, to conduct electoral reform and restore the proportional election system, change the makeup of the election commissions, to strengthen the European integration process.

The authorities should declare their intention to sign Association Agreement with the EU, to adopt a program of targeted social assistance, effectively use the funds of the Oil Fund. -06D-

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9 November 2014 (Sunday) 15:58:24

An opposition rally demanding the release of political prisoners began at the stadium "Mehsul"  in the Yasamal district of the capital  at 15:00 under slogans "Free!" organized by the  opposition National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF.)

Protesters are holding portraits of jailed human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers, religious activists, as well as the slogans "Freedom to political prisoners."

Police at first prevented journalists filming  the action from the stands, holding the metal fence and cornered them.

The rally organizers regarded it as hindering by  police the  work of journalists. Participants chanted slogans, demanding not to interfere with the work of journalists. As a result, the police leaked journalists to tribunes.-06B-