Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan (CEC) states that the preparations to popular vote (referendum) appointed to 18 March 2009 are being implemented in accordance with the approved Calendar Plan. Nowadays, 14 initiative groups received signature sheets by applying to the CEC for being registered as referendum campaign groups and two of them – "Yeni Azerbayjan” ("New Azerbaijan”) and "Shahar” ("City”) have already been registered as campaign groups.

 

The documents submitted to the CEC by 5 initiative groups are precisely checked by the specialists of the Working Group that function under the CEC. And 92 out of 121 initiative groups covering nearly 100 thousands initiators who applied to the Constituency Election Commissions were registered as campaign groups.

It becomes clear from a number of appeals entered CEC that signature collecting campaign is the center of attention for country population. At the present, signature collection campaign is continued by the initiative groups and in general, the campaign is conducted according to legal requirements.

Up to present, CEC received more than 600 telegrams by Grey-beards Council, Veterans Council, various regional departments of Garabagh war veterans' organizations, martyrs' families, groups of educated men, culture men and other unions, as well as individual citizens.

 

The people who applied to the CEC demonstrated their support to the conduct of the forthcoming popular vote related to making amendments and changes to the Constitution and stated that they would take active part in this process and denounce the challenges against referendum.

 

Signature collecting representatives of "Republicans” and Movement for Garabagh and Republic” initiative groups who were collecting signature in Yevlakh, Goranboy, Imishli, Gakh, Mingachevir, Oghuz, Aghstafa, Neftchala and other regions applied to the CEC in written form that though they were not faced with any obstacle in signature collection campaign, voters and even the people in close relation with them refused to sign though they made their efforts for some days, and consequently, by arriving at the conclusion that continuing this process will not reach any perspective, they returned signature sheets.

We would like to note with regret that a number of appeals entered Public Information Center of the CEC, its "hot line, web address, as well as the appeals entered by nearly 400 voters from Aghdash, Jalilabad, Lerik, Zerdab, Salyan and other regions include that voters are deceived by illegal ways by some people collecting signatures.

The voters who afterwards understood that they had been deceived, in their written appeal submitted to the CEC require to consider their signatures invalid.

A few days before, CEC Chairman addressed to Azerbaijan popularity on the importance of being conscientious in signature collection campaign and this address was welcomed by consent and estimated positively.

 

 By addressing to referendum initiative groups and voters once more, CEC called them to strictly abide by the requirements of electoral legislation while collecting signatures or giving signatures, he also states that deceiving voters y illegal ways causes law results and if such facts find their legal prove, then this may be basis for considering the collected signature invalid and refusing the registration of the initiative group.