Opposition denied assembly

The government of the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, has again declined to authorise an action of the election bloc Azadlyg in a park in front of the Narimanov Movie Theatre scheduled for 4 November. The government has proposed holding the action in squares out of town. In turn, the bloc's press secretary Nureddin Ismailov said that the bloc was not going to hold the public meeting in the above-mentioned places.

However, according to Mr Ismailov, it is up to the bloc leadership to make the final decision on the meeting.

Azadlyg had planned to hold a public meeting and a concert at the Tofik Bahramov Stadium on 4 November. However, sports events are to take place at the stadium on this day, so the bloc leadership decided to relocate the action to the square in front of the Nariman Narimanov Movie Theatre.

Meanwhile, the government of Baku has not prohibited representatives of the ruling party, Yeni Azerbaijan, from holding a public meeting and a demonstration. The action will take place in the Gelebe Square on 4 November. It will involve 20,000 to 25,000 activists supporting the ruling party according to its press service.

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