Twenty Fourth anniversary of the Popular Front of Azerbaijan

Democratic Forces of Azerbaijan today marked the 24th anniversary of the founding  the People's Front of Azerbaijan, which led  the National-liberation Movement in the country in 1989. The event was held at the office of the "Civil Unity" party,

"The Popular Front was not originally formed as a party. This movement was the result of the aspirations of the people of Azerbaijan regarding freedom and independence," said Ali Kerimli, the leader of the Popular Front Party.

Later some members of the Movement, who joined a number of political parties in the country, were subject to pressure by the authoritarian regime.

Kerimli said that in 1990, after the punitive operations of Soviet troops in Baku, the first attempt  was  made to destroy the Movement,  the second was made during a coup d'etat in 1993, and finally, the third attempt to destroy the Popular Front of Azerbaijan took place in 2000 after the death of its leader Elchibey.

Other members of the Popular Front, Isa Gambar, Sabir Rustamkhanli,  Jamil Hasanly, Ibrahim Ibrahimli, Sulheddin Akbar and others,  noted in their speeches the connection and continuity between the ideas of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic 1918-20 and the National Liberation Movement in  1988-1993, as well as the modern movement for free elections in the face of the National Council.

The speakers focused their attention on the determination to achieve victory of the democratic forces in the upcoming elections, by a single candidate, Rustam Ibrahimbayov.

The chairman of the National Council and presidential candidate, sent a congratulatory letter to "war veterans", who praised the role of the Popular Front in  the formation of Azerbaijan's independence.

Professor Jamil Hasanly noted that the Popular Front had completed the first phase of its program, ensuring the independence of the country. "…But independence and freedom are not the same thing. Now our challenge is to ensure freedom of the country and its citizens in the upcoming presidential election," he said.

Speakers criticized the revision of history by the authorities, who are doing their best to diminish the role of the Popular Front in the development of independence. The participants of the meeting condemned the arrests of activists and pressure on political and economic freedoms.  -0—