Opposition accuses Azerbaijani authorities of repressions

The authorities of Azerbaijan hold open repressions against the members of the "Movement for Republic and Karabakh" and other oppositional organizations, who advocate against amending the Constitution. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that this was the leitmotif of today's extraordinary session of the "Movement for Republic and Karabakh".

The Movement was created on January 9 by the leading oppositional forces of Azerbaijan, including the "Azadlyg" (Freedom), "Musavat" Party, Democratic Party, Public Forum "In the Name of Azerbaijan" and a number of the leading NGOs.

Leila Yunus, Coordinator of the Movement and the head of the Institute of Peace and Democracy (IPD), has reported that from all the districts messages arrive about detentions and arrests of the oppositional activists who are gathering signatures with the aim to submit documents to the Central Electoral Committee (CEC) to register agitation groups (AGs).

"The pressure is still exerted on representatives of the public and members of their families with the aim to force them refrain from criticism of the future referendum and policy of the authorities," Ms Yunus said.

Ali Kerimli, leader of the Party of the People's Front of Azerbaijan (PPFA), said that "the reason of this arbitrariness is in the fact that the authorities fail to face due criticism from the international community and, in particular, from the OSCE, Council of Europe and leading countries."

Sardar Dzhalaloglu, leader of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (DPA), has indicated "gross infringements of the legislation" both at making the decision on holding the referendum and in the offered amendments themselves.

Isa Gambar, leader of the "Musavat" Party, has condemned "the illegal actions of the authorities, which, without any hesitations, try to suppress any discontent of the population by frank blackmail and intimidation."

Lala Shovket, Chair of the Liberal Party of Azerbaijan (LPA), has stated that "the authorities are not only breaking the laws, but behave immorally." "They've gone so far as to arrest children of oppositionists and blackmail their fathers. The police are rushing into citizens' houses and intimidating them, demanding to withdraw their signatures," Ms Shovket has noted.

The liberal leader has sharply criticized the US Department of State of the USA and the Council of Europe for their "contemplative attitude to what happens."

The "Caucasian Knot" has already reported that on January 24 the CEC of Azerbaijan considered complaints against law violations in the course of signing-in in favour of the AG "Republicans" on the referendum about amendments to the Constitution. This Group is set up by the "Musavat" oppositional party; and to have it registered, at least 40,000 signatures of voters are needed.

The CEC has concluded that the facts stated in the complaints have nothing to do with reality, and rejected the complaints.

We remind you that on December 16 "Eni Azerbaijan", the party in power of Azerbaijan, voiced cancellation of the constitutional norm, which assumes election of one and the same person as the President of Azerbaijan for no more than two times. The opposition stands against such amendments