Democracy For Azerbaijan

26 September Referendum: What has it changed in future of Azerbaijan? Despite detention of protesting people, rallies 26 September referendum approved changes in Azerbaijan constutition. constitutional changes were supported by more than 90 percent of the voters according to official page of voting. 26 September referendum has changed the following in presidency of Ilham Aliyev Amendments include:  The extension of the presidential term in office to seven years from five, creation of the office of vice-president, and eliminating age limits for president. " Azerbaijan is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2016, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2016, Partly Free inFreedom on the Net 2015, and receives a democracy score of 6.86 on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 as the worst possible score, in Nations in Transit 2016." Freedomhouse.org mentions. I think everything is clear enough. Aliyevs will rule Azerbaijan for a longer period of time as a king.

The next rally was on 17 th of September. It has started at 3 o’clock. According to Gozal Bayramli more than 200 people are detained by police. Police have taken people by force into minibus. People were protesting against 26 September referendum. Majority of people who are detained by police are active members of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party.

Rally in Məhsul Stadium today started at 5 o’clock.   Chairman of Azerbaijan Popular front party Ali Karimov said in his speech. We were protesting against 26 september referendum and requiring freedom for political prisoners. “I can see here representatives of NIDA, REAL and other unions representatives. All of us have one problem. We want freedom and democracy.   He also talked about political prisoners. He said “ There are more than 100 political prisoners in jails today. Among them there are Ilqar Mammadov, Fuad Gahramanli, Mammad Ibrahim and others. Fuad Ahmadli political prisoner’s father Zafar also gave speech in rally. He said that his son is no guilty at all. He asked international organizations for support to stop political arrests. We were holding Azerbaijan flags. Hundreds of people had gathered in stadium. When I was going home police stopped few youth before me, I ran into subway in order not to get arrested by policemen. Give us fr...