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Article 2
 

Principles of Participation in Elections and Referendum


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


2.2. Participation of the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan in elections and referendums shall be free and voluntary. Nobody shall have the right to put pressure on a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan to participate or not to participate in elections and referendums, and nobody may impede him/her to express his/her will freely.


2.3. The diplomatic representations and consulates of the Republic of Azerbaijan should facilitate the implementation of the rights of citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan residing outside the Republic of Azerbaijan, which are enshrined in Articles 3 and 56 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, with regard to the holding of elections and referendums.


2.4. Elections shall not be held on the same day as a referendum. Elections of Deputies of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Elections of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall not be held on the same day. Elections of Deputies to the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Municipal Elections shall not be held on the same day. Elections of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Municipal Elections shall not be held on the same day.


2.5. Preparation and holding of elections and referendums, vote counting, and the determining of voting results and returns of elections and referendums shall be carried out freely and publicly.


2.6. The persons participating in elections (referendums) shall follow the terms given below:


2.6.1. to respect freedom of the press;


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


2.6.3. to not obstruct the distribution of election campaign materials or referendum campaign materials;


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


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


2.6.6.to cooperate with election (referendum) bodies and their officials in the conduct of free, peaceful and organized elections;


2.6.7. to not obstruct voters from free expression of their will;


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


2.6.9. to follow and assist in maintaining of the secrecy of voting ;


2.6.10. to not influence voters to one’s side through illegal activities;


2.6.11. to not interfere in the activities of election (referendum) commissions without reason; to not violate the process of voting and vote counting;


2.6.12. to respect legally approved results of elections (referendums), to present each complaint regarding the elections (referendums) to the authorized body, and to abide by the decision of that body regarding the relevant complaint;


2.6.13. to not make speeches that intimidate, slander or call to violence, or distribute materials with such content;


2.6.14. to not offer rewards to voters, or threaten them with punishment;


2.6.15. to not use administrative, municipal or other public resources outside the circumstances prescribed in this Code;


2.6.16. to not pressure, bribe or use other methods in contradiction with legislation to entice voters to vote or refrain from voting;


2.6.17. to not pressure, bribe or use other methods in contradiction with legislation to force voters to participate or avoid participation in referendum campaign groups, to nominate themselves or not nominate themselves, to withdraw or not withdraw their candidacy, or to take part or avoid participation in the pre-election (pre-referendum) campaign process,;


2.6.18. not to use the activities or assistance provided by any official as grounds for supporting or not supporting a candidate or an issue put to referendum;


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