Blogger Mekhman Guseinov. Photo by Aziz Karimov for the Caucasian Knot

01 January 2020, 15:56

Azerbaijan: after elections, independent candidates face fraud and slander accusations

The independent candidates, who have claimed violations after municipal elections in Azerbaijan, now face accusations themselves. The blogger, Mekhman Guseinov, was accused of falsifying the vote; and Rabiya Mamedova, an activist, was charged with defamation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that municipal elections were held in Azerbaijan on December 23. They were accompanied by numerous violations of the law, the independent candidates and activists interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have stated.

Mekhman Guseinov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that his complaint about violations during elections to the municipality of the neighbourhood of Garachukhur in Baku was not objectively considered. According to his story, the constituency election commission (CEC) came to the conclusion that violation facts were not confirmed.

"Moreover, it follows from the CEC's answer that I myself had committed violations. Thus, our complaint had stated that ballot stuffing (throw-in) took place at the polls, as well as 'carousels' and voting of persons who had been brought from other districts. I presented photo and video proofs and demanded to cancel the officially announced outcomes and to recount the votes. But now, they accuse me of stuffing, 'carousels' and bringing voters from other districts with the aim of falsification," said Mr Guseinov.

Now, he intends to submit his materials to the Prosecutor's Office.

The complaint of the activist, Rabiya Mamedova, who ran for the municipality of the Binagadi settlement of Baku, was also rejected.

"They told me that all the 'carousels' and stuffing were organized by me. Moreover, they opened a criminal case against me. Matant Nasibova, a member of the Binagadi municipal council, filed a lawsuit against me to protect the honour and dignity," Ms Mamedova told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 1, 2020 at 06:58 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent

All news
НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН И РАСПРОСТРАНЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ООО “МЕМО”, ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ООО “МЕМО”.

March 28, 2024 22:19

  • Court extends arrest of blogger Alyona Agafonova

    Alyona Agafonova, a blogger from Samara, accused of desecrating a symbol of military glory because of her video filmed near the monument "The Motherland is Calling!" has been left in custody until June 19.

March 28, 2024 22:13

March 28, 2024 22:03

  • Attack on Crocus City Hall highlights issue of state assistance to victims of terror acts

    In Russia, the status of victims of terror acts should be legislated and state assistance should be guaranteed to them, human rights defenders claim after the terror act at the Crocus City Hall. According to the human rights defenders, the authorities still do not provide full-scale assistance to the victims of the terror act in Beslan and the militant attack on Nalchik.

March 27, 2024 16:51

March 27, 2024 14:49

News archive