IPA CIS Observers Visit Central Election Commission and Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan Republic

The IPA CIS Observer Team headed by Team Coordinator, First Deputy Speaker of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sodiq Safoyev visited the Central Election Commission of the Azerbaijan Republic. The observers held a meeting with the CEC Chairman Mazahir Panakhov.

The CEC Chairman informed the team members on the final stage of the campaigning and preparation of the electoral system of Azerbaijan for the elections to the Milli Mejlis, as well as on the CEC’s cooperation with both national and international observers.

Mazahir Panakhov noted that the snap elections were characterized by the all-time high interest from political parties and independent candidates. There are 1314 candidates representing 24 political parties listed in the ballot papers. 242 candidates are nominated on behalf of political parties, whereas 1072 are independent.

The upcoming elections are also notable for a wide participation of both national (over 90 000) and international observers (873 observers from 55 countries). The CEC of the Azerbaijan Republic has also registered 199 journalists representing 132 media from 47 states.

The Chairman noted that the Commission had received 47 complaints in total, which was less than during the previous elections. The main reasons for a rejection of registration are double citizenship (2 candidates), commitment of a particularly serious crime in the past (3 candidates) and wrong information about the property (22 candidates).

IPA CIS Observer Team Coordinator Sodiq Safoyev informed the CEC Chairman on the outcomes of the long-term monitoring and provided the copy of the “Report of Expert Group on Long-Term Monitoring of Preparation and Holding Snap Elections to the Milli Mejlis of the Azerbaijan Republic”.

The observer team also attended the Constitutional Court of the Azerbaijan Republic and held a meeting with its Chairman Farhad Abdullaev.

He acknowledged that the decisions of the courts had an impact on the political life of Azerbaijan and strengthened the role of legitimacy and rule of law in this area.

The Constitutional Court checks and approves the CEC decisions on the outcomes of the elections. During the previous elections in 2005 and 2010, the Constitutional Court repeatedly cancelled the preliminary results of the elections in a few districts. The last elections were held without violations.

Despite the increased number of candidates, fewer complaints were received by the CEC, district and local commission during the current campaign. The complaints and appeals are tackled promptly and in accordance with the existing rules.

The observers also commemorated the citizens of Azerbaijan who died in the fight against fascism by laying flowers to the Monument of Memory and the Memorial to Richard Sorge, the legendary scout, who was born in Baku.