A constitutional referendum was held in Azerbaijan on 24 August 2002.[1] The referendum was initiated by the authoritarian Heydar Aliyev regime. Voters were asked eight separate questions, all of which were approved with at least 96% voting in favour. The referendum was marred by fraud.[2]

Background

On 22 June 2002 President Heydar Aliyev proposed 39 amendments to 23 articles of the constitution. In accordance with articles 3 and 152, the amendments required a referendum to take place, with a turnout at least 50%.[3]

The proposal was approved by the Constitutional Court on 21 June. On 24 July the Central Election Commission ruled that the 39 amendments would be covered by eight separate questions, despite demands from the opposition that each amendment be voted on separately.[3] On 30 August the commission made a ruling that absolute voting figures would not be published, only the percentages.[3]

On 29 July the National Assembly voted by 94 to 5 to adopt the amendments.[3]

Proposals

1. Changes due to liabilities of Azerbaijan Republic to European CouncilI. In Article 95, 6th and 19th items to be worded as follow:
"6) Election of authoritative representative on human rights of Azerbaijan Republic on the representation of the President of Azerbaijan Republic"; "19) amnesty".
II. Item 14 of Article 109 to be worded as follow:
"14) shall give representation on election of authoritative representative on human rights of Azerbaijan Republic to Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan Republic".
III. To substitute the words "Economic Court" in Articles 95, 109, 125 and 128 for "Appellate courts".
IV. In Article 130:
- to remove the 7th item from part III, the 8th and 9th items to be considered items 7 and 9;
- parts V, VI and VII to be considered parts VIII, IX and Õ accordingly;
to add parts V, VI and VII in the following wording:
"V. Everyone, in the course of the law, may lodge a complaint to the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan Republic regarding the standard acts of legislation and executive power authorities, municipal and judicial acts for decision of issues indicated in items 1-7 of part III of this article by the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan Republic with the purpose of restoration of violated human rights and liberty".
"VI. The courts in the course of the law of Azerbaijan Republic, may apply to the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan Republic for interpretation of the Constitution and laws of Azerbaijan Republic in view of issues on exercise of human rights and liberty"
"VII. The authoritative representative on human rights of Azerbaijan Republic may inquire the Constitutional Court about the standard acts of legislation and executive power authorities, municipal and judicial acts for decision of issues indicated in items 1-7 of part III of this article by the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan Republic".
V. Article 132 to be worded as follow:
"Article 132. The appellate courts of Azerbaijan Republic
I. The appellate courts of Azerbaijan Republic shall be the highest legal body on considering disputes relating to their competence under the law.
II. Judges of the appellate courts of Azerbaijan Republic shall be appointed by the Milli Mejlis of the Azerbaijan Republic on the representation of the President of Azerbaijan Republic.
2. Changes due to joining of Azerbaijan Republic to European Convention on protection of human rights and libertyI. To remove the words "fulfilment of the order given by the authoritative official during the emergency situation and martial law" from Article 27 part IV.
II. To remove the word "only" from Article 71.
III. In Article 155: to add the words "or their annulment" after the word "changes"; the words "on restriction of items" to be replaced with the words "on deprivation of human rights and liberty or on restrictions of higher degree than those provided by international agreements supported by Azerbaijan Republic".
IV. In Article 125 part IV the words "in the implementation of Judicial power with the exception of the Constitutional legal procedure" to be replaced with the words "in criminal legal procedure".
V. In Article 76 part II the words "alternative military service" to be replaced with the words "alternative service".
3. Changes due to improvement of referendum conductingI. To add part III to Article 3 in the following wording:
"III. Referendum cannot be conducted on the following issues:
1) taxes and state budget;
2) amnesty and pardon;
3) election, appointment or approval of the officials, whose election, appointment or approval are under the jurisdiction of legislation bodies and (or) executive power accordingly".
4. Changes due to elections to Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan RepublicI. In Article 83 the words "and proportionate election systems" to be replaced with the words "election systems".
II. To remove item 6 from Article 89 part I.
5. Changes due to election of the President of Azerbaijan RepublicI. In Article 101:
- in part II the words "by the majority of two thirds" to be replaced with the words "by the majority of more than half";
- in part IV to remove the word "simple"
II. In Article 102 number "7" to be replaced with number "14".
6. Changes due to improvement of public authorities activityI. The Article 95 part III to be worded as follow:
"III. Decrees are also adopted on other issues being under the jurisdiction of Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan Republic according to the present Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic; on the issues connected with organizational management of Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan Republic; on the issues, with respect to which Milli Mejlis should express its opinion".
II. In the first paragraph of Article 88 part I the words "two regular Sessions" to be replaced with the words "two regular autumnal and vernal Sessions"; the second, third and fourth paragraphs to be removed; in the sixth paragraph the words "until February 1" to be replaced with the words "until March 10".
III. In Article 105:
- in part I the words "the Chairman of Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan Republic" to be replaced with the words "the Prime-minister of Azerbaijan Republic";
- in part II the words " In case of resignation of the Chairman of Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan Republic" to be replaced with the words "In case of resignation of the Prime-minister of Azerbaijan Republic", and the words "shall be fulfilled by the Prime-Minister of Azerbaijan Republic" to be replaced with the words "shall be fulfilled by the Chairman of Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan Republic";
- in part III the words "by the Prime-minister of Azerbaijan Republic" to be replaced with the words "by the Chairman of Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan Republic".
IV. Article 158 to be worded as follow:
"Article 158. Restriction of Initiative on Introducing Additions to the Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic In light of the provisions reflected in the first section of the present Constitution, no additions can be proposed to the Constitution of Azerbaijan".
7. Changes due to conducting of judicial reformsI. In the first part of Article 96 after the words "Supreme Court" to add the words "Office of Public Prosecutor of Azerbaijan Republic", in parts II and IV after the words "Supreme Court" to add the words "Office of Public Prosecutor of Azerbaijan Republic", and in part V after the words "Supreme Court" to add the words "Office of Public Prosecutor of Azerbaijan Republic";
II. in the first part of Article 131 the words "it shall exercise control over the activity of general and specialized courts in the order specified by the Law" to be replaced with the words "it shall put justice into practice in appeal order".
III. in the first part of Article 133 after the words "in order" to add the words "and in cases of"; to remove the words "accurate and uniform".
8. Other changesI. To add part VI to Article 134 with the following wording:
"VI. The Constitution of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic shall be represented by the President of Azerbaijan Republic and approved by the Constitutional Law".
II. Part III of Article 142 to be worded as follow:
"III. Principles of municipality status shall be determined by the present Constitution, and rules of elections to municipality shall be determined by the Law".
III. In part III of Article 149 the words "executive power" to be replaced with the words "legislative, executive power"
Source: Direct Democracy[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Results

Question For Against Invalid Total votes Registered voters Turnout
Question 197.072.630.283,899,2424,407,41788.47
Question 297.012.690.30
Question 396.822.690.35
Question 496.772.690.41
Question 596.992.730.28
Question 696.792.920.29
Question 796.792.800.41
Question 896.532.800.41
Source: Direct Democracy

References

  1. ↑ Azərbaycan Respublikasının Konstitusiyasında dəyişikliklər edilməsi məqsədi ilə 24 avqust 2002-ci ildə keçirilmiş ümumxalq səsverməsinin (referendumun) yekunları haqqında" Archived November 11, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "Azerbaijan Holds Controversial Constitutional Referendum". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2016-09-26.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Azerbaijan, 24 August 2002: Changes in terms of joining the European Council Direct Democracy (in German)
  4. ↑ Azerbaijan, 24 August 2002: Changes in terms of Azerbaijan's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) Direct Democracy (in German)
  5. ↑ Azerbaijan, 24 August 2002: Holding of referendums Direct Democracy (in German)
  6. ↑ Azerbaijan, 24 August 2002: Electing the Parliament Direct Democracy (in German)
  7. ↑ Azerbaijan, 24 August 2002: Electing the President Direct Democracy (in German)
  8. ↑ Azerbaijan, 24 August 2002: Improving the authorities Direct Democracy (in German)
  9. ↑ Azerbaijan, 24 August 2002: Judicial Reform Direct Democracy (in German)
  10. ↑ Azerbaijan, 24 August 2002: A number of constitutional amendments Direct Democracy (in German)
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