Opposition, boycotting elections, holds unsanctioned meeting in Baku

The action was not interfered by the police.

The Azadlyg opposition bloc, including the Popular Front Party, Liberal Party and Civil Development Party, has decided to boycott the presidential elections.

Several other opposition parties, including Musavat, Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, National Independence Party, Adalyat Party, Civil Solidarity Party, Democratic Reforms Party, Classical Popular Front Party and Azadlyg party announced that they will not take part in the elections.

According to Novosti-Azerbaijan, the protest included hundreds of oppositionists. Representatives of international organizations, diplomatic missions, as well as foreign mass medias, observed the actions.

The protest was held in front of the head office of the Musavat opposition party.

On Saturday the opposition powers, boycotting the elections, were planning to hold a forum on the presidential elections in Azerbaijan. The event was to be held in the head office of the Musavat party. Due to the high number of the forum participants, most of them could not find a place in the office. Therefore, the event organizers decided to continue the action in the street.

Speaking during the action, Ali Kerimli, chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Ali Aliyev, chairman of the Citizen and Development Party, Eldar Namazov, president of the public forum "For Azerbaijan", Avez Temirkhan, chairman of the Liberal Party of Azerbaijan, Arif Hajili, head of the central office of the Musavat party and leader of the Musavat party Isa Gambar voiced their opinions on the established sociopolitical and electoral situation in Azerbaijan.

They stated the correctness of their decision to boycott elections. They noted that the situation in the country before elections is not democratic and normal conditions have not been created for conduction of fair, transparent and democratic elections.

They noted that people are also boycotting the elections and, therefore, they are passive and not displaying interest in the process. In this sense, the decision of the opposition coincides with the decision of the people.

The opposition leaders also announced that they will continue the struggle for country's democratization and the result of their combat will become the restoration of democratic principles, after which the democratic elections will be held.

By results of the action they adopted an appeal to the country's public. The document calls on the people to be active in boycotting the elections and struggle for their rights.

"Novosti-Azerbaijan"