Center for Election Monitoring Points to Restrictions on Freedom in Anticipation of Local Elections

Baku / 08.10.19 / Turan: The Center for Election Monitoring and Education for Democracy (hereinafter, Center) has published an Evaluation Document on the preparation of municipal elections on December 27 and the socio-political environment in anticipation of the election campaign.

As noted in the document, despite repeated criticism of a number of provisions of the Electoral Code by socio-political organizations, as well as the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and the OSCE / ODIHR, the necessary reforms to eliminate existing shortcomings have not been adopted.

The Center studies have revealed the need to improve the principles of formation of election commissions, create mechanisms for the effective protection of suffrage and prevent interference with the electoral process, eliminate contradictions in the rules for registering candidates and voter lists.

The Center welcomed the removal of bans on leaving the country for a number of journalists. But at the same time it noted that at present 112 people, including five journalists, are imprisoned because of dissent, criticism and expression of alternative positions.

In addition, over 20 criticizing websites, including the online versions of the newspaper Azadlig, Radio Azadlig, and Meydan TV, are blocked, and thus the election freedom of expression is seriously limited.

The Center also points to the practice of periodically arresting and prosecuting members of opposition parties for criminal and administrative arrests. And this makes it difficult for opposition activists to run as candidates.

The document also focuses on the growth of restrictions on freedom of assembly in Azerbaijan.

The Center also indicates serious discrepancies in information on the number of voters between the data of the CEC and the State Statistics Committee.

The Center considers that the December 27 municipal elections should not create artificial obstacles for the registration of independent and opposition candidates.

Restrictions on freedom of assembly should be removed, conditions should be created for candidates to meet with voters and hold rallies, bans on expressing opposition views on TV channels should be lifted, opportunities should be provided for appealing in courts and passing verdicts on these cases should be based on case-law of the ECHR.

The Center was established in 2008 and became the successor to the Election Monitoring Center, established in 2001. The organization is headed by the well-known human rights activist Anar Mammadli.

The Center has monitored 15 elections since 2001. The organization has carried out more than 600 trainings to train 14 thousand local observers.

Te Center is a member of ENEMO (the network of NGOs for monitoring the election of OSCE countries), the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) and the Global Network of Local Observers. -21D06-