BAKU, November 13 -- The Azadlyg opposition bloc will mount protests against the November 6 parliamentary election results and demand a new ballot, bloc co-leader and head of the People?s Front Ali Kerimli said at an opposition rally in Baku on Sunday.
"Azerbaijani authorities have missed a historic chance to hold democratic elections, so the opposition will demand their resignation," he said. Next week the opposition will hold protests throughout the country, "and these actions will be crowned with our victory," Kerimli said.
Another bloc co-leader and Musavat Party head Isa Gambar thinks that "the only way out from the current political crisis is free and democratic elections of the parliament." He said the opposition would continue struggling in compliance with the law.
The rally participants shouted in approval of the statements. The appeals for bringing tents to the square and starting open-ended protests were made. "The opposition can do that if its leaders make the decision," Musavat deputy head Rauf Arifoglu said.
Yet the Sunday rally ended within two hours allowed by the authorities. Its resolution called for putting to justice all members of election commissions and representatives of executive authorities and law enforcement agencies guilty of the falsification of elections. They called on the authorities to stop the persecution of citizens taking part in protests and lift the limits on the freedom of assembly.
In the opinion of observers, up to 20,000 people took part in the Sunday protest. The Baku police department said it was 4,500. "There was no breach of law," police representatives said.