Azerbaijan parliamentary election, 2005
Encyclopedia
The 2005 Azerbaijan parliamentary election was held on November 6. It pitted candidates of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party
against opposition led by the Azadlıq (Freedom) bloc of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party
, the Equality Party
and Azerbaijan Democratic Party
. The polling stations closed 19:00. The result is contested, with allegations of vote-rigging from the opposition and outside groups.
The Central Election Commission reported, with 28% of votes counted, a 62% win for the NAP, 3% for the Equality Party, 1% for the APFP, 2% to independent candidates and 2% each to two other small parties. These results are contradicted by a Mitofsky International and Edison Media Research poll which found the NAP going from 75 to 56 seats in the 125-member assembly, with the Azadliq bloc getting 12 seats.
Human Rights Watch
expressed concern about widespread intimidation
of opposition supporters, saying that the elections could not be free or fair under such conditions.
ARTICLE 19
said Azerbaijani authorities were responsible for the violent harassment of journalists covering opposition rallies, frequent attacks and forced closure of independent media outlets, and widespread abuse of state and local resources in favour of pro-government candidates.
The opposition hoped for another color revolution
, but analysts doubted this would happen. Movements like Yox!
, Yeni Fikir or Meqam are not ready for revolution yet, according to Emin Huseynov
, founder of the former.
New Azerbaijan Party
The New Azerbaijan Party is the ruling political party in Azerbaijan. It was formed on 18 December 1992 by the former President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, who led it until his retirement and death in 2003...
against opposition led by the Azadlıq (Freedom) bloc of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party
Azerbaijan Popular Front Party
The Azerbaijani Popular Front Party is the main opposition political party in Azerbaijan, founded in 1992 by Abulfaz Elchibey. After Elchibey's death in 2000, the party split into two factions, the reform wing led by Ali Kerimli and the classical wing led by Mirmahmud Miralioglu.During 5 November...
, the Equality Party
Equality Party (Azerbaijan)
The Müsavat Party is the oldest existing political party in Azerbaijan. Its history can be divided into three periods: Early Musavat, Musavat-in-exile and New Musavat.-Early Musavat :...
and Azerbaijan Democratic Party
Azerbaijan Democratic Party
The Azerbaijan Democratic Party ADP .-History:The Azerbaijan Democratic Party was established on January 26, 1991 by the participants of 27 persons. On October 17, it was registered by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic...
. The polling stations closed 19:00. The result is contested, with allegations of vote-rigging from the opposition and outside groups.
The Central Election Commission reported, with 28% of votes counted, a 62% win for the NAP, 3% for the Equality Party, 1% for the APFP, 2% to independent candidates and 2% each to two other small parties. These results are contradicted by a Mitofsky International and Edison Media Research poll which found the NAP going from 75 to 56 seats in the 125-member assembly, with the Azadliq bloc getting 12 seats.
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
expressed concern about widespread intimidation
Intimidation
Intimidation is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of injury or harm. It's not necessary to prove that the behavior was so violent as to cause terror or that the victim was actually frightened.Criminal threatening is the crime of intentionally or...
of opposition supporters, saying that the elections could not be free or fair under such conditions.
ARTICLE 19
ARTICLE 19
ARTICLE 19 is a London-based human rights organisation with a specific mandate and focus on the defence and promotion of freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide...
said Azerbaijani authorities were responsible for the violent harassment of journalists covering opposition rallies, frequent attacks and forced closure of independent media outlets, and widespread abuse of state and local resources in favour of pro-government candidates.
The opposition hoped for another color revolution
Color revolution
Colour revolutions is a term that was widely used by the media to describe related movements that developed in several societies in the CIS and Balkan states during the early 2000s. The term has also been applied to a number of revolutions elsewhere, including in the Middle East...
, but analysts doubted this would happen. Movements like Yox!
Yox!
YOX! is a nonviolent pro-democracy youth movement in Azerbaijan, which models itself after other colour revolutional youth groups Otpor, Kmara, Pora, Zubr, and KelKel. It means No! in Azeri....
, Yeni Fikir or Meqam are not ready for revolution yet, according to Emin Huseynov
Emin Hüseynov
Emin Hüseynov is a computer programming specialist and author.Hüseynov initiated the development of the Azerbaijani language in ICT sphere. He is also the author of the first Azerbaijani electronic books and software project called AzeriSoftware and a statistics system called ilk10...
, founder of the former.