5 September 2008
TURAN news agency

Azerbaijan's five leading opposition parties have signed a joint statement boycotting the October presidential election, Turan news agency reported on 5 September.

The statement, quoted by Turan, said that despite the opposition's numerous appeals to carry out democratic reforms, the Baku government had failed to ensure the necessary conditions for holding free and fair elections.

"The pre-election situation does not meet minimal requirements for holding free and fair elections," the statement said. "There is an absolute lack of freedom of political activity, freedom of assembly has in fact been banned, there are serious restrictions to freedom of information, and all TV channels are controlled by the authorities."

The statement went on to say that the government also put pressure on independent media.

"The authorities oppress independent press, political opponents and journalists, arrest them on fabricated charges and use violence against them. Three journalists are currently in jail, and there are over 30 political prisoners," the statement said. "The authorities use law-enforcement agencies to oppress their opponents, and courts and parliament are completely under the control of the executive authorities. Under the circumstances a normal election campaign is out of the question."

The statement also said that a government elected under the given circumstances could not be regarded as legitimate.

The statement was signed by the leader of the Liberal Party, Lala Sovkat Haciyeva; the president of the For Azerbaijan public forum, Eldar Namazov; the chairman of the People's Front of Azerbaijan Party, Ali Karimli; the leader of the Musavat party, Isa Qambar; and the chairman of the Citizen and Development party, Ali Aliyev, Turan said.

At a subsequent news conference, Ali Karimli said that the signing of the statement was the first step on the path towards the consolidation of Azerbaijan's democratic forces, Turan reported. The opposition is planning to take other coordinated steps, including the holding of mass protests against undemocratic elections, Karimli said.