Namazov : Not Opposition Preparing Riots, but Policy of Authorities Leads to Social Unrest

Baku/31.08.13/Turan : Statements about the alleged preparation of the movement El and the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) for disturbances on the eve of the presidential election are lies and slander.

That was a comment in an interview with Turan by the leader of this movement and the head of the NCDF administration Eldar Namazov after his 4-hour interrogation in the Investigation Department of Grave Crimes of the General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan on Aug. 30.

El and NCDF repeatedly stated that their goal is holding free and fair elections in Azerbaijan and the transition to democracy through peaceful and civilized ways.

We are preparing to combat transparently, but unfortunately, the authorities, every time facing the threat of losing elections, organize such shows," said Namazov.

He recalled that in 2005, before the parliamentary election authorities also played a show like this, calling it an attempt to overthrow the government.

"However, no evidence was found, and no official was charged with this.

Similar methods by the authorities are aimed to scare people, to make them forget about their right to freedom of assembly and freedom of choice," he said, and added that the investigation by the prosecutors was politically ordered.

He drew attention to the fact that the prosecutor's office began the "investigation" 2 hours after the session of NCDF, where the reserve candidate for President from the opposition was nominated.

"The authorities expected that NCDF would not be able to get out of the stalemate and break up. However, we managed to reach a consensus, to preserve the unity and nominate a new candidate," he said.

 "The movement was created 5 months ago, and during that time we could act normally only 17 days. The movement was founded on March 12, and already on March 29 it was deprived of office. It was the first wave of pressure.

 The second phase began with the dismissal of the family members of the movement. But it had no effect.

 The current provocation is the third attack on El, said Namazov.

 The Prosecutor's Office should investigate the publications on the ruling elite placing 48 billion dollars in offshore areas, the scale of corruption, and the fate of illegally obtained money. Instead, the Prosecutor's Office is investigating who bought the water during the rally," said Namazov.

As for the "whistleblower " Aflan Ibragimov, he came a few months ago and offered to help the movement.

Soon NCDF received information that this person was an agent provocateur. His goal was to infiltrate and make a provocation against NCDF from the inside.

Later it became known that he had previously been convicted of fraud. "Then we took action and did not take him into NCDF, and then he began to speak to the press with a provocative statement," said Namazov.

He denied reports that NCDF is financed by Rustam Ibragimbekov.

Sessions of NCDF are carried out in succession in the offices of various parties and the issues of logistics are decided by the hosts of the event.

Answering the question of inviting the new candidatefrom NCDF for presidency, Jamil Hasanli, to London, Namazov said it was received a month ago.

According to Namazov, calls of other El members to the Prosecutor's Office pursue targets of intimidation and pressure of fear in the community.

No party wants riots. All social explosions came from the citizens themselves, as it was in Guba, Ismaily, etc.

"This is not a fault of the opposition. The policy of the authorities is to blame," said Namazov. -06D-