Opposition candidates report on pressure on voters in Sumgait

In the city of Sumgait, members of the opposition nominated as candidates to the Azerbaijani Parliament claim the lack of equal opportunities for pre-election campaigning for all candidates. They believe that voters are being pressured by candidates from the ruling party.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 28, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev signed a resolution to schedule the next elections to the National Assembly for November 1.

44-year-old journalist and activist Khafiz Babaly is one of the candidates for the 42^nd Sumgait second electoral precinct, who heads the regional organization of the "Republican Alternative" (ReAl) movement.

In his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, Khafiz Babaly described the problems on the eve of the pre-election campaign.

"We wanted to install a common banner of our candidates on a large poster at a front location in the city. However, the advertising company has refused us. They have said that they do not want to face troubles," said the candidate to the Azerbaijani Parliament.

Besides, he believes that in his electoral precinct, Takhir Mirkishili, Adviser to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Industry and Economy, a candidate from the ruling party "Yeni Azerbaijan", enjoys the benefit of the use of an administrative resource.

Gadjar Abbasly, a 26-year-old candidate from the "Umid" (Hope) Party at the 41^st Sumgait first electoral precinct, has also noted the interference in the election process. So, in her electoral precinct, according to Gadjar Abbasly, candidate Mirzadjan Khalilov, a member of the ruling party "Yeni Azerbaijan", subjects voters to psychological pressure.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.