September 23, 2003 - 00:08 AMT
PACE REPRESENTATIVES SAYS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IN AZERBAIJAN FRAUGHT CIVIL WAR
Falsification of the outcomes of the presidential election in Azerbaijan is fraught with civil war. As reported by "Vremya Novostey" Russian newspaper, co-rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Andreas Grass stated upon completion of his "observing" visit to Azerbaijan. In his words, there are many people in Azerbaijan afraid and feeling pressure exerted by the authorities at the threshold of the election. "They do not have the opportunity to express themselves let alone to prove their case. It is impossible to be an oppositionist in the province of Azerbaijan. Police persecutes these people wherever it is possible", - Andreas Gross noted. In his opinion, the election in Azerbaijan being not democratic may cause a national disaster. "Judging from what I see, the population is no longer going to accept falsified results", - PACE co-rapporteur underscored.