Azerbaijan: Whether Azerbaijan Popular Front (AKC) leader Abulfaz Elchibey died on 22 August 2000; whether the AKC divided under the leadership of Mirmahmud Fattayev after Elchibey's death; whether the members of Fettayev's faction gave their votes to the Musavat Party

Led by Abulfaz Elchibey, the Azerbaijan Popular Front (Azerbaycan Khalq Cabhasi, AKC) was the ruling party of Azerbaijan from June 1992 until June 1993 (Political Parties of the World 2002, 32). Please consult AZE34338.E of 9 May 2000 and AZE25876.E of 9 January 1997 for earlier information concerning this political party.

AKC leader Elchibey died of cancer in Ankara on 22 August 2000 at the age of 62 (RFE/RL 23 Aug. 2000; Azerbaijan International Autumn 2000; New York Times 23 Aug. 2000). Following his death, the AKC divided into two factions - the reformists (Political Parties of the World 2002, 32; RFE/RL 3 Nov. 2000a) and the conservatives (ibid.), who are also known as the traditionalists (Europa 2002 2002, 609) and "Elchibey loyalists" (Eurasianet.org 23 Oct. 2000). The reformist faction is led by former party deputy chairman Ali Kerimov (ibid. Political Parties of the World 2002, 32), while Mirmahmud Fattayev (Fatayev, Fattaev) leads the conservative faction (ibid.; Europa 2002 2002, 609; Eurasianet.org 23 Oct. 2000; Turkistan Newsletter 30 Aug. 2002).

A number of sources referred to Fattayev's conservative faction as supporting Musavat ("Equality," the New Muslim Democratic Party) in the November 2000 election (Europa 2002 2002, 609; Political Parties of the World 2002, 32; RFE/RL 3 Nov. 2000b). Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported that that in July 2000 the still-united AKC planned to align with Musavat and run joint candidates in the November 2000 election; however, these plans were thwarted by the party's split (ibid.). According to Eurasianet.org, the conservative faction of the AKC and Musavat struck a deal that had Musavat recognize the conservative faction "as the authentic successors of Elchibey" in exchange for this faction's electoral support in November 2000 (23 Oct. 2000). Though an alliance between the parties was reported (RFE/RL 3 Nov. 2000b; Political Parties of the World 2002, 32; Europa 2002 2002, 609), the Research Directorate found no direct reference to votes being given to Musavat by the conservative faction of the AKC among the sources consulted. For further information on Musavat, please consult AZE38878.E of 14 June 2002 and AZE35631.E of 4 October 2000.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Azerbaijan International [Baku]. Autumn 2000. Vol. 8.3. "Newsmakers: Abulfaz Elchibey." [Accessed 9 Jan. 2003]

Eurasianet.org. 23 October 2000. "Thumbnail Sketches of Azerbaijan's Major Political Parties." (Azerbaijan Election Watch) [Accessed 27 Dec. 2002]

Europa World Year Book 2002. 2002. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

New York Times. 23 August 2000. Douglas Frantz. "Abulfaz Elchibey, Who Led Free Azerbaijan, Dies at 62." (Turkistan Newsletter 26 Aug. 2000/Central Asia Discussion List/Eurasianet.org). [Accessed 9 Jan. 2003]

Political Parties of the World. 2002. 5th Edition. Edited by Alan J. Day. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 3 November 2000a. Newsline Vol. 4, No. 214, Part I. Liz Fuller. "Will Azerbaijani Elections Confirm Worst-Case Scenario?" (NEXIS)

_____. 3 November 2000b. Caucasus Report Vol. 3, No. 43. Liz Fuller. "While Azerbaijan Popular Party Loses Support." [Accessed 9 Jan. 2003]

_____. 23 August 2000. Newsline Vol. 4, No. 162, Part I. Liz Fuller. "Azerbaijani Opposition Leader Dies." (NEXIS)

Turkistan Newsletter. 30 August 2000. Shahin Rzaev. "Azerbaijan's First President Dies." (Central Asia Discussion List/Eurasianet.org). [Accessed 9 Jan. 2003]