REAL Not to Recognize Results of Early Presidential Elections

Baku / 05.02.18 / Turan: The Republican Alternative Movement (REAL) announced that it would not recognize the results of the extraordinary presidential elections scheduled for April 11, assessing them as a "hasty and unjustified step".

"Currently, there is not any of the bases for holding early elections, which are used in European countries. The new step taken by Ilham Aliyev to win the presidency prematurely is doubtful from the legitimacy viewpoint," the REAL Movement, stated on February 5.
"This is the continuation of the illegal changes introduced into the Constitution in 2016," REAL believes. "The announcement of extraordinary elections narrows the already limited opportunities for holding fair and free elections in Azerbaijan," the statement reads.

The authors of the document believe that the imprisonment of "one of the main alternative candidates for the presidency", the REAL Movement's leader Ilgar Mammadov is a point limiting the electoral legitimacy in the same way as it was during the previous elections in 2013 .

"In addition, numerous journalists, bloggers and activists are in prison for political reasons. Alternative sources of information have been almost completely eliminated by the authorities, and those who still remain, are subject to total attacks, with seriously restricted freedoms of assembly and association. It was as a result of such pressure that serious obstacles were created to hold the REAL congress and to turn it into a political party," the statement goes on.

REAL states that until reasonable explanations for the appointment of early elections are presented, and the above limitations are not eliminated to ensure the democratic nature of the election campaign, elections cannot be considered legitimate and this process will be nothing more than a "poorly prepared show."

"REAL will not recognize the elections without ensuring democratic conditions for their conduct, as well as the participation of Ilgar Mammadov, and will use the right to urge citizens not to participate in this farce," the statement says. -06D--