Domestic

Home page

Domestic

YAP deputy executive secretary: â€œCEC must warn Jamil Hasanli and Azadlig newspaperâ€

17 September 2013 10:58 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Mubariz Aslanov – APA. “In connection with the violation of the election legislation, New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) will lay a complaint to the international organizations about presidential candidate Jamil Hasanli, who has been nominated by the National Council’s initiative group, and to the Press Council if Azadlig newspaper continues in this manner,” YAP deputy executive secretary, MP Siyavush Novruzov told APA.

Novruzov noted that Hasanli has prematurely launched a pre-election campaign: “Jamil Hasanli has roughly violated the requirements of the Election Code and launched the pre-election campaign contrary to the requirements of the Code of Administrative Offences. The fact that Azadlig newspaper, who has not applied to the Central Election Commission (CEC) for the paid pre-election campaign, is dealing with the campaign is a serious violation of law. Azadlig newspaper has not been included in the CEC list of media outlets, which will participate in the pre-election campaign. For example, we have today participated in the drawing in order to publish a free article in the Azerbaijan newspaper. The same case also concerns newspapers “Xalq” (People), “Respublika” (Republic). This is the requirement of the law. However, members of the National Council are seriously violating the requirements of the law. They are publishing any article or ad in a newspaper that has previously refused to take part in the election campaign. The “Azadlig” newspaper is not only violating the law, but is also promoting only one candidate and carrying out smear campaign against the others.”

Novruzov said that it is contrary to the Election Code: “In our opinion, the Central Election Commission should warn Jamil Hasanli and "Azadlig" newspaper in this regard. The organization should also be fined under the requirements of the Code of Administrative. If the process goes on, the CEC should make more serious decisions. More serious attention should be given to this issue.”

Novruzov said that YAP is going to appeal to the Press Council against "Azadlig" newspaper: “The newspaper refusing election campaign is engaged in a deliberate promotion of a candidate and carrying out smear campaign against other candidates.”

YAP official said that they would also emphasize violation of the law by Hasanli at the meetings with election observation missions of international organizations: “If they continue this campaign from now on, we will appeal to the international organizations.”