On January 24, Central Election (Referendum) Commission conducted a meeting under the chairmanship of Mazahir Panahov.

The appeals submitted to Central Election (Referendum) Commission were considered at the meeting concerned with referendum appointed on March 18, 2009. The member of Central Election Commission Ramiz Ibrahimov informed on the appeal submitted to CEC by the authorized representative of referendum initiative group "Respublikachilar” Gulaga Aslanly.

 

 The appeal indicated that on January 19 of current year, Ogtay Zeynalov and Jahangir Amirkhanly who collect signatures in support of the referendum initiative group mentioned above were invited to the Nizami district police department of Ganja city which also interfered with the process of signatures collecting and requested to undertake appropriate measures defined by law on it.

 

 As a result of investigation of the appeal of authorized representative, it was determined that on January 19, 2009 these persons were invited to Nizami district police department due to the reasons not concerned with signatures collecting in support of the referendum campaign group.

 

 Thus, they were invited to the police department due to official complaints of citizens concerned with campaign organized in tea house of Ganja city park "Khan Bagi” on inviting citizens to sign to conduct public events against Israel in Palestinian - Israeli conflict. So, the appeal of the authorized representative of referendum initiative group "Respublikachilar” Gulaga Aslanly did not find its confirmation during the investigation. He did not provide any evidences on this issue.

 

The Central Election Commission made a decision according to which the appeal was not satisfied due to lack of grounds. Then, the member of Central Election (Referendum) Commission Gabil Orucov informed about other appeals submitted by the authorized representative of the referendum initiative group "Respublikachilar” Gulaga Aslanly according to which during the process of signatures collecting by the members of above mentioned referendum initiative group, the representative of village executive authority Ayyar Guliyev, chairman of municipality Rafig Haciyev and field inspector Chingiz Mammadov pressured the residents of Tezekend village of Jalilabad region; the authorized representative requested to undertake appropriate measures defined by law on it.

 

As a result of investigation, it was determined that the resident of Tezekend village Shahbaz Garayev providing Bahtiyar Garayev with signature sheets, gave him instructions to collect signatures from citizens. Based on instructions of his father, Bahtiyar Garayev collected signatures from one part of residents of Tezekend village explaining it as if they are collected in support of his father to be elected as a deputy, as well as for establishing a representation of Tezekend village separated from the composition of Uctepe executive representation, for returning money invested during the soviet time and for liberalization of Garabakh.

 

After the village residents realized that they were cheated, they informed village executive representative, chairman of municipality and filed inspector on it. At the same time, no pressure was made either on the citizens put their signatures nor on the persons representing interests of relevant initiative group.
Central Election Commission made a decision not to satisfy the appeal of the authorized representative due to lack of grounds.

Current issues were considered during the meeting.
The representatives of IFES Azerbaijan and mass media representatives participated at the meeting.