Referendum Roundup

The Azeri President decreed in late June to announce a nationwide polling on 24 August to bring in 24 amendments to the Constitution on the state budget, elections, court of appeals, amnesty, etc.

Key changes are transference of the President's powers to the Premier, but not the Speaker, in case he is unable or absent to rule, reduction in vote quorum for presidential elections and abolishment of the non-constituency election system.

Azernews presents referendum update in this new section.

Opposition asks CE for explanation

Five leading opposition parties have addressed Secretary General of the Council of Europe Walter Schwimmer to “provide explanations as to the conformity of the items of the 24 August referendum with Azerbaijan’s commitments to the CE”

The address was signed by leaders of the Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan, Musavat, PFPA reformers, the Azerbaijan Democratic Party, and the Civil Unity Party. The five have voiced desire to get CE views on two of the proposed changes to the Constitution, which, as they say, have direct impact on human rights.

One of the two changes envisions transference of the Constitution Court right to void the registration of political parties and public organizations to common courts. Opposition doubts authorities saying that this is a mere commitment to the CE. The extraction of the term “only” from Article 71.3 saying that “partly and timely restrictions on human rights and freedoms shall be applicable only at war, during emergency and war states and general mobilization” has been a second item of opposition fury. The parties have expressed protest to the changes and hope for soonest CE explanation.

CEC blamed for violating law

Over 20 parties have blamed the Central Election Commission for violating the law and allegedly demanding addresses of opposition observers to the referendum. In a statement, the parties protested artificial obstacles from the Central Election Commission in allocation of observer cards. They claim that the CEC offers additional hard conditions contradicting Article 24 of the referendum law to get registration cards.

Local society backs poll

Chairman of the Naxcivan-Araz Society Samir Adigozalli and chairman of the society's Elders Board Alyar Safarli held a news conference at the Press Club of Baku Wednesday to elaborate on the Azeri President's visit to Naxcivan and the 24 August referendum.

The two highly appreciated President Aliyev's visit to the region and opening of a regional branch of the National Academy of Sciences, underlining that Armenians are pursuing a worldwide propaganda to claim Naxcivan, an ancient Azeri land.

“The newly opened branch, no doubt, will conduct sufficient work in this direction”, they noted.

The two men also said they backed the 24 August referendum, stressing in particular that the ballot will be good for the country's future.

Opposition back to OSCE roundtable

Opposition parties have been back to the roundtable in the OSCE's series of referendum events Thursday though they walked out in protest during the latest gathering, proposing to focus on the transparency and democratic conduct of the referendum.

Thursday's discussions progressed as scheduled, as their first part was about Azerbaijan's commitments to the Council of Europe, which include human rights, constitutional freedoms and free and fair elections. The discussions were around the proposed changed to Articles 130 (7), 155 an 158 of the Constitution.

Representative from the Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan Fuad Agayev told the meeting that the amendment to Article 130 (7) is a blow on political parties, while chief of the President's Office socio-political department Ali Hasanov said parties could apply to four instances, common courts, Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court, and the Constitution Court for their rights abuses.

The second part of the discussions centered on the changes arising from Azerbaijan's joining the European Convention on Protection of Human Rights and Basic Freedoms. Newly elected Ombudsman Elmira Huseynova pledged she would do her best to protect and restore human rights. The final roundtable was held on 20 August to focus on judicial reforms and proposed constitutional changes. The heated debates, the blame game and time pressure didn't allow to settle all the issues.

Opposition accused courts of "functioning under orders". It announced it boycotted the referendum, with a premonition that the ballot would be falsified in all means, and invited the nation to do so.

Certification for 22,000 opposition observers

The Central Election Commission said in its Tuesday meeting that 22,000 members of opposition parties would be certified as observers in the 24 August poll. Also on the agenda were the results of seminars-consultations held for members of district and precinct commissions to prepare and hold the referendum. Over 30 seminars-consultations had been held in all regions of the country with some 30,000 voters in attendance.