\n A criminal case has been launched against the independent election observer Jala Bayramova, who was severely beaten during the general election day by a voter at the polling station in Azerbaijan's Astara-Lankaran province.\n<\/p>\n
\n The incident happened during the elections when Bayramova recorded, as part of her duties, the election violations and filmed them on video. The woman who allegedly committed falsifications first warned Bayramova not to film her and later tried to take her phone, which Bayramova resisted. Later in the video, Bayramova is seen being attacked by the same woman who drags her by hair in front of the members of the polling station.\n<\/p>\n
\n The video went viral on social media and caused a wide debate during and after the election.\n<\/p>\n
\n In her statement, Bayramova has revealed how she narrowly escaped the incident.\n<\/p>\n
\n A day later, Bayramova underwent a medical examination. Having been choked she had serious bruises and some other injuries on her body. She is still under medical care.\n<\/p>\n
\n Social media has discussed possible motives for the attack, saying the attack on Bayramova was organized by the secretary of the District Electoral Commission, Mubariz Amirov, and the attacking woman, named as Azada Karimova, was neither a voter nor a member of the commission.\n<\/p>\n
\n Mazahir Panahov, Azerbaijan\u00b4s Central Election Commission chair, has dismissed it as being nothing but an argument.\n<\/p>\n