19:00, 10 April 2018

Meydan TV: Azerbaijani students complain about pressure before voting

Pre-election agitation banners in Baku, April 2018. Photo by Aziz Karimov for the Caucasian Knot.

Students of the Azerbaijan Academy of Labour and Social Relations are threatened with problems at the exams if they do not come to the Academy on the voting day. The Meydan TV has reported today, referring to the Academy' spokeswoman that students should vote at their alma mater.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the early presidential election in Azerbaijan will be held on April 11. Eight candidates run for the post, including the incumbent Ilham Aliev.

The National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), the "Musavat" and "Umid" Parties refused to take part in the early election, while the movements "Republican Alternative" (ReAl) and "Nida" warned they would not recognize the results of the voting.

One of the university students of the above Academy told on condition of anonymity that they were ordered to come to classes on April 11 under a threat of having problems at the exams if they do not.

The information was confirmed by a female employee of the Academy, who has also refused to give her name. She said that students must come to classes on April 11 and vote.

The Azerbaijani legislation presupposes that university students may vote where they live; however, the voting day is an official day off; therefore, university classes should be cancelled; and students should not attend their universities on that day.

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