Elections Held without Favorable Competitive Environment – Center for Election Monitoring

Baku / 21.01.20 / Turan: The Center for Election Monitoring and Democracy Education (hereinafter the Center – Ed.) distributed an interim report on the progress of the election campaign for the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan.

The document covered the period of nomination and registration of candidates. The report is based on data from 18 volunteer observers, members of election commissions, political parties, candidates for deputies and their representatives.

Compared with the previous parliamentary elections in 2015, political activity increased, and the number of independent and opposition candidates increased, the report said.

The National Council of Democratic Forces refused to participate in the elections due to a lack of confidence in the justice and freedom of the process. At the same time, the Musavat and REAL parties and the NIDA movement decided to participate in the elections.

In anticipation of the election, restrictions on freedom of assembly, association and expression have not been removed.

The Center regrets that the Electoral Code has not been improved on the basis of the recommendations of the OSCE / ODIHR and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.

 In the process of registering candidates, there have been violations that are characteristic of previous parliamentary elections, starting in 2005. In particular, executive structures put pressure on some opposition and independent candidates to refuse to participate, did not give them signature sheets, and prevented the collection of signatures in their favor. The activity of election commissions is not ensured transparency.

 During the period of nomination and registration of candidates, the on-line CEC database did not function. The system only started working on January 11 after the deadline for submitting subscription lists.

 2,431 people participated in the elections as candidates for deputies. 2,358 applicants were approved. Of these, 2,247 took subscription lists, and 1,774 handed in, of which 1,560 were registered candidates.

Representatives of 19 parties participate in the elections. All 123 candidates from the ruling New Azerbaijan are registered.

Out of 81 Musavat candidates, 64 were registered in 60 districts.

Of the 42 candidates for the Union of REAL Republicans, 31 were registered.

The Movement bloc nominated 18 candidates, of which 16 were registered.

30 deputies did not nominate from the previous parliament this time.

The report concludes with recommendations:

- Create equal opportunities for candidates at the pre-election campaign stage, provide everyone with free airtime and set reasonable prices for campaigning on a paid basis;

- Eliminate restrictions on freedom of assembly and increase the number of places for candidates to meet with voters;

- Stop pressure on election participants, put an end to the practice of using administrative resources, hold accountable members of election commissions and executive structures that violate the law;

- Complaints about the elections should be investigated by election commissions with the participation of candidates, the requirements of not only national legislation, but also international treaties of Azerbaijan should be taken into account, as well a case-law decisions of the ECHR.   –06D-