Opposition bloc sabotages parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan

The National Council of Democratic Forces of Azerbaijan has refused to run in the Nov 1 parliamentary elections.

TURAN quotes the party as saying that there are no conditions for free and fair elections in Azerbaijan. “So, we are not going to be part of an imitation,” the party says.

On Aug 19, it specified a number of prerequisites for democratic elections: no more repressions, release of political prisoners, no more obstacles to the opposition’s activities, no more pressure on independent mass media, free TV debates, simplified registration procedures.

Since none of the measures have been implemented, the party supposes that the outcome of the elections will be determined in the presidential palace rather than at polling stations.

According to TURAN, the core of the National Council of Democratic Forces of Azerbaijan is the People’s Front of Azerbaijan and a group of public activists.