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Article 2
 

Principles of Participation in Elections and Referendum.



Citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall participate in elections and referenda based on general, equal and direct suffrage by means of secret and personal vote.





The participation of citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan in elections and referenda shall be free and voluntary. Nobody shall have the right to put pressure upon a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan to participate or not in elections and referendum, and nobody can impede him to express his will freely.





The diplomatic representations and consulates of the Republic of Azerbaijan should facilitate implementation of the rights of citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan residing outside the Republic of Azerbaijan during holding of elections and referendum, which are specified in Articles 3 and 56 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan.





Elections cannot be held on the same day as a referendum.





Preparation and holding of elections and referenda, vote counting, definition of voting results and results of elections and referenda shall be carried out freely and publicly.





The persons participating in elections (referendum) shall follow the principles given below:



   to respect freedom of press;



      not to obstruct professional activities of the mass media representatives; not to violate or interfere in election (referendum) campaign of candidates and parties (blocks of political parties);



    not to obstruct distribution of election campaign materials or referendum campaign materials;



 not to destroy or to spoil election campaign posters, referendum campaign posters and other campaigning materials;



 not to obstruct pre-election (pre-referendum) mass activities;



 to cooperate with election (referendum) bodies and their officials for conduct of free, peaceful and organized elections;



 not to obstruct the voters to express their will freely;



 to respect authorized persons and observers and to cooperate with them;



 to follow and assist in maintaining of secrecy of voting ;



   not to win over voter to its side by illegal activities;



not to interfere in the activities of election (referendum) commissions groundlessly; not to violate the process of voting and vote count;



to respect legally approved results of elections (referendum), to present each complaint regarding the elections (referendum) to authorized body and to observe the decision of that body regarding the relevant complaint;



not to make speeches which intimidate, slander or call upon violence or distribute materials of this content;



to offer rewards to voters, or intimidate them with punishment;



not to use the state resources, municipal or other public resources in circumstances not established in this Code;



not to provoke voters to vote or avoid voting, by using pressure or offering presents or by other methods that contradict the legislation;



not to make voters participate or avoid participation in referendum campaign groups, self-nominate or not self-nominate, withdraw or not withdraw their candidacy, take part or avoid participation in pre-election (pre-referendum) campaign process, by using pressure or offering presents or by other methods that contradict the legislation;



not to use assistance or activities rendered by any official for supporting or not supporting the issue put on for referendum, or the candidate;







Violation of Articles 2.6.2-2.6.5, 2.6.7, 2.6.10, 2.6.11, 2.6.13-2.6.18 of this Code shall impose liabilities under the Criminal Code or the Code of administrative Offences of the Republic of Azerbaijan.