Baku mayor’s office disallows protest downtown; opposition defiant
The executive authorities of Baku have declined authorization for a
rally planned by two Azerbaijani opposition blocs on Saturday.
The mayor’s office did not allow Musavat and the Union for the Sake of Democracy to hold the protest in the city center, but suggested that it take place in other parts of the city instead.
Mirmahmud Miralioglu, chairman of the Classic Popular Front Party, which is part of the Union, told Radio Liberty that the opposition blocs had no plans to either postpone the rally or hold it in the proposed locations.
Musavat and the political parties included in the Union appealed to the mayor’s office a few days ago requesting permission to hold a rally in several central locations in Baku, to be joined by up to 10,000 people. The opposition blocs call for conducive environment for democratic elections in Azerbaijan, ensuring equal representation of the authorities and opposition in electoral commissions and fighting what they call corruption and bribery in the country.
Recently, the executive authorities compiled a list of new venues for holding public protests, terming eleven locations in the Azerbaijani capital as suitable for public actions, but opposition parties rejected the proposal, charging that those venues are located far from the city center. So far, the Baku City Executive Authority has not changed its decisions on the appeals filed by the opposition Azadlig bloc. The blocs included in Azadlig remained defiant, claiming that the mayor’s office decision is unlawful and attempting to hold protests in the city’s central squares without permission. The police have prevented the unauthorized protests.*
The mayor’s office did not allow Musavat and the Union for the Sake of Democracy to hold the protest in the city center, but suggested that it take place in other parts of the city instead.
Mirmahmud Miralioglu, chairman of the Classic Popular Front Party, which is part of the Union, told Radio Liberty that the opposition blocs had no plans to either postpone the rally or hold it in the proposed locations.
Musavat and the political parties included in the Union appealed to the mayor’s office a few days ago requesting permission to hold a rally in several central locations in Baku, to be joined by up to 10,000 people. The opposition blocs call for conducive environment for democratic elections in Azerbaijan, ensuring equal representation of the authorities and opposition in electoral commissions and fighting what they call corruption and bribery in the country.
Recently, the executive authorities compiled a list of new venues for holding public protests, terming eleven locations in the Azerbaijani capital as suitable for public actions, but opposition parties rejected the proposal, charging that those venues are located far from the city center. So far, the Baku City Executive Authority has not changed its decisions on the appeals filed by the opposition Azadlig bloc. The blocs included in Azadlig remained defiant, claiming that the mayor’s office decision is unlawful and attempting to hold protests in the city’s central squares without permission. The police have prevented the unauthorized protests.*
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