"REAL" refused to participate in a referendum on amendments to the Constitution because of the government pressure, said in an interview with Turan and "Voice of America," the board member of "REAL", lawyer Erkin Gadirli. "After the announcement of the referendum, we announced that we will take part in the vote, because the referendum is not an election to boycott them. Participation in the referendum is very important. Each political organization shall be obliged to ensure the right of people to make informed choices. Therefore, we thought it was necssary to participate in the referendum," said Gadirli. However, pressure began on the "REAL" members, attacks and repression. The Executive Secretary Natig Jafarli, the head of Nasimi-Sabail Majlis, Togrul Ismayilov, and Deputy Head of Binagadi district organization Elshan Gasimov were arrested. All they were key figures in the Movement, two of them were authorized representatives at the referendum. "The arrests cause humanitarian and financial problems, loss of time, support for families, etc. Under such circumstances "REAL" refused to participate in the referendum," Gadirli said.
Does REAL recognize legitimacy of the referendum? Answering this question Gadirli said: "The referendum was originally not legitimate. Referendums should not be held this year, without any prior discussion, alert, informing people of a fait accompli.
The decision of the Constitutional Court was also not correct, because has not been tested the constitutionality of the proposed amendments. Moreover, the Constitutional Court made an additional item in the referendum act, although it is only the prerogative of the president.
President proposes to increase the term of office from five to seven years, but does not explain why. It is not clear why the president wants to get authority to dismiss the parliament. Why does he need the vice-president?
"All this is not explained. Instead, alternative views are suppressed, their carriers arrested. Therefore, we initially consider the referendum illegitimate," said Gadirli.
He also rejected accusations of "REAL" of cooperation with Western governments. "We do not cooperate with any government. If they mean our international connections, the talk is about NGOs or international organizations, in which Azerbaijan has membership - OSCE, Council of Europe and the UN. It is our right and our choice." -06D-
Question-answer
-
State Department's Liam Wasley, Director of the Office of European Security and Political Affairs at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, speaks to TURAN's Washington correspondent Alex Raufoglu on NATO's comprehensive defense and deterrence plan for Ukraine, forthcoming announcements of a package of support, as well as the country's progress towards membership and other challenges.
-
Sadettin Tantan, one of Turkey's most experienced statesmen and politicians, answers the questions from the Turan News Agency.
-
Yılmaz Akıncı, an employee of the Türkiye office of the Al-Jazeera channel, answered the questions of Turan News Agency after the publication of his memoirs entitled "An Angel on My Tail"
-
Authoritative expert Sabit Bagirov, who heads the Foundation for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship and Market Economy, in an exclusive interview with Turan sheds light on the country's upcoming role as the organizer of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).
Leave a review