AZERBAIJAN REGISTERS ADVOCACY GROUPS FOR REFERENDUM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 000125 SIPDIS EUR FOR MATT BRYZA; DRL FOR KAREN STEWART E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KDEM PHUM AJ SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN REGISTERS ADVOCACY GROUPS FOR REFERENDUM REF: A. BAKU 62 ¶B. BAKU 16 ¶C. 08 BAKU 1185 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Azerbaijan,s Central Election Commission (CEC) approved the petitions of nine organizations to function as "advocacy groups" ahead of the March 18 referendum on constitutional changes. Those approved include the President,s political party, as well as two opposition groups. Four organizations, including two minor opposition groups, were rejected; one organization failed to submit its petition in a timely manner. Human rights defender Leyla Yunus, who continues to face charges of slander based on a December 2008 lawsuit by the Minister of Interior, has emerged as "coordinator" of the two opposition groups. The CEC also registered 124 organizations and/or individuals to work as advocacy groups in the regions of Azerbaijan. CEC estimates that 10,000-15,000 observers, mostly citizens of Azerbaijan, will be registered. OSCE/ODIHR does not plan to participate. Critics of the referendum maintain that the referendum process was introduced in a hasty manner without sufficient public debate, and that Azerbaijan's restricted media environment, plus constraints on freedom of assembly, limit possibilities for a free and fair vote. It is not clear how nine "advocacy groups," particularly groups of scientists and sportsmen with little or no history of political activism, raised 40,000 signatures in a rather short period. Further, it remains unclear just what these advocacy groups will do during the election campaign - or why their registration was necessary at all. End Summary CEC Explains Registration Process -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Pol-Econ Chief met February 12 with Rovzaq Gasimov, Head of International Relations at the Central Election Commission (CEC),to discuss further the GOAJ,s approach to conducting a March 18 referendum on constitutional changes. This followed 10 days of intense CEC activity in which an inter-agency group reviewed applications by 13 non-governmental organizations and political parties that sought registration as "advocacy groups" in the upcoming thirty-day campaign period. ¶3. (SBU) Gasimov explained that 14 groups had requested petitions, which required 40,000 signatures by registered voters. Thirteen of these groups submitted petitions to the CEC by the deadline date of February 1. Over the course of ten days, the CEC validated or rejected signatures and passed the petitions to the inter-agency group for review. As a result, nine organizations were approved as advocacy groups: - New (Yeni) Azerbaijan Party (YAP) - City Initiative - Progress - Law and Democracy - Civil Society - For Sustainable Development - Intellect - Republicans - For the Republic and Karabakh Four organizations were rejected: - Prosperous Village - Free Speech - Azerbaijan Xalq Cumhuriyyeti/Union for Democracy - National Independence ¶4. (SBU) Of the four that were rejected, Prosperous Vilage and Free Speech were considered to be pro-gvernment and in favor of the proposed constitutinal changes. Union for Democracy and National Idependence were opposition-based, and have nominaly agreed to join with other opposition groups i opposing the amendments. One group, "Democratic Azerbaijan," missed the registration deadline date. Advocacy Groups Mainly Government "Friendly" -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Of the nine groups approved, commentators described seven as "friendly" to the government, and thus expected to support the slate of constitutional changes. The most recognizable name, of course, is Yeni Azerbaijan, which is the political party of President Aliyev. Other pro-government groups, such as Intellect and "For Sustainable Development," are relative newcomers to the political scene, BAKU 00000125 002 OF 003 and represent academicians/scientists and sportsmen, including Olympic athletes. ¶6. (SBU) Two groups, the Republicans and "For the Republic and Karabakh," consist largely of opposition parties, and will campaign against the amendments. The Republicans were mainly organized by the Musavat Party, headed by long-time political activist Isa Gambar. For the Republic and Karabakh is an amalgamation of other opposition parties. Human rights defender Leyla Yunus has emerged as the group,s spokesperson, and yesterday agreed to act as coordinator for both opposition groups. (Note: Leyla Yunus is the defendant in a lawsuit filed by the Minister of the Interior, who claims that Yunus slandered him in a 2008 interview about human trafficking conducted by day.az. (online newspaper). Yunus maintains that the Minister initially targeted her for prosecution because of her emerging role as spokesperson for anti-referendum groups. Additional comments on Yunus to be reported septel. End Note) Advocacy Groups Working at National and Regional Levels -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Gasimov also explained that 125 organizations and/or individuals requested registration at the constituency, or district, level to work as advocacy groups. Of those, 124 were approved. (Note: there are 125 district election commissions in total, but the 125 applications did not correspond to a system of one per district. Rather, some districts will have multiple advocacy groups, while others will have none. End Note) Constituency advocacy groups can work in a specific district only; the nine "national" advocacy groups can conduct nationwide campaigns. Azerbaijan,s Proposed Constitutional Amendments -------------- ¶8. (SBU) As reported reftels, Azerbaijan's parliament decided December 19 to conduct a national referendum March 18 on a slate of 28 proposals to amend the country's constitution. The proposals actually include more than 28 changes to the constitution, as some proposed changes will be grouped together on the ballot. (Note: Previously, CEC had referred to 29 proposals. That has since been condensed to 28. End Note) CEC states that, in order to simplify the process, it has grouped "similar" changes together into single proposals. Voters will be able to vote yes or no on each proposal; they will not be asked to vote yes or no on the package as a whole. ¶9. (SBU) Actual changes proposed include a removal of presidential term limits, the ability to postpone or cancel presidential and/or parliamentary elections during a time of war and a requirement for publications to receive express written consent before publishing photos of individuals. Critics of the proposed changes argue that insufficient debate has taken place. The parliament approved the referendum date and proposed changes after less than 30 minutes of debate, and the Constitutional Court endorsed the measure five days later. Azerbaijan,s media environment remains highly constrained, with Radio Liberty off the air, and freedom of assembly and association is restricted. The campaign season officially begins February 18. Domestic Monitors Being Registered -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Gasimov said that the CEC thus far has registered 362 domestic observers at the national level and 2,300 Azerbaijani citizens for observation in the regions, limited to specific districts. No international groups have yet applied for registration, though they are invited to do so. (Note: OSCE/ODIHR has announced that it will not participate in the referendum. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, as well as the CIS Parliamentary Assembly, is expected to send an official delegation. Central Election Commission members from Russia, Lithuania and Ukraine may observe the vote in Azerbaijan. End Note) Registration of domestic observers, in Gasimov's estimate, could reach 10,000-15,000. CEC notes that existing requirements for registration make it easier for Azerbaijani individuals to register as observers, than for NGOs and others to register as groups. Comment -------------- BAKU 00000125 003 OF 003 ¶11. (SBU) Many observers in Baku were surprised to learn that two opposition groups were officially registered this week by CEC. The additional development of individuals registered to "advocate" at the district/local levels further came as a surprise. CEC seemed uncertain about roles that these groups would play, or why registration was necessary at all. Gasimov pointed to precedents in presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections, in which individuals and political parties must register to stand for office. He acknowledged the uncomfortable comparison, however, given that in a referendum there are no candidates. Thus, it seems, people are registered on the national and local levels for the March 18 referendum, but without clear instructions on what they can or can,t do. CEC notes that individuals who are not registered still maintain the right to voice opinions on the constitutional amendments -- in theory, at least. At the national level, registered groups will get free air-time on television. There is no public financing or other obvious benefits for registration in the districts. Registration at that level, therefore, might offer a certain level of protection for political activists, without any other obvious benefits. The requirement to register also offers CEC and the GOAJ the opportunity to keep tabs on campaign activists, as well as election day observers. DERSE