Domestic

Home page

Domestic

Rey Monitoring Center: The Azadlig newspaper released false polls on behalf of Gallup and CNN

23 October 2013 10:21 (UTC +04:00)

Advisor of Rey Monitoring Center, sociologist Ali Aliyev said it is normal that opposition expresses its views: “But these views must be based on truth. On October 8 - 10 hours prior to the opening of polling stations, the Azadlig newspaper published an article entitled “Jamil Hasanli won the international polls”. According to the newspaper, Gallup and CNN allegedly conduct opinion polls in Azerbaijan and Jamil Hasanli was introduced as a leader in both polls. We doubted it and started conducting studies. It was revealed that the only survey published by CNN on the Azerbaijani presidential elections is the result of the poll conducted by Rey Monitoring Center on September 22. In this poll, 81.2% of respondents announced that they will vote for Ilham Aliyev. We also sent a questionnaire to Gallup. In their response, Gallup spokesman Stefani Holgado said that no survey has been conducted by Gallup on the Azerbaijani presidential elections.”

Aliyev said as a result of the investigation, it was revealed that the Azadlig newspaper disseminated false news on behalf of the two influential international structures. They posted this news on website of the newspaper and refrained from disseminating it on the printed editions.

First Deputy Editor-In-Chief of the newspaper Rahim Hajiyev told APA that the information that Gallup and CNN conducted opinion polls in Azerbaijan and both polls showed the National Council’s candidate Jamil Hasanli as a leader was taken from Facebook social network: “I do not remember exactly from what page in Facebook this information was taken.”

Asked about whether or not the newspaper will refute this news, Ramin Hajiyev said that newspaper would comment on the issue after investigation.