Azerbaijan: opposition calls to boycott referendum

The Public Movement "For Karabakh and Republic" has announced a boycott of the referendum appointed on March 18 on amendments to the Constitution. The decision was made today at the meeting of the leaders of the parties and NGOs-members of the Public Movement.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Arif Gadzhily, head of the central office of the "Musavat" Party, that this step was taken as the referendum as such was appointed "in violation of the Constitution." "All our appeals to power bodies about the illegality of both the referendum and the need to cancel it have been ignored," said Mr Gadzhily.

Besides, as he continued, "the very referendum campaign was held under restriction of the opposition's chances to explain to the people the antidemocratic character of the issues brought to the referendum and the illegality of the referendum as such."

"Our opportunities to campaign on television were essentially restricted. We were not allowed to hold campaign rallies, and out meetings with voters were seriously limited," the "Musavat" spokesman has noted.

Mr Gadzhily has added, in this context, that the opposition has called the population to ignore the referendum.

At the same time, according to his story, the opposition plans to make use the remaining chances till the referendum for appearing on Public Television (OTV) and holding meetings with voters in the regions.

In his turn, MP Mubariz Gurbanly, Deputy Executive Secretary of the party in power "Eni Azerbaijan", said in his comments on the boycott decision that it was "an attempt of the opposition to safeguard their defeat."