“Musavat” calls on the authorities to ensure democratic conditions for parliamentary elections

The board of the “Musavat” party has convened an extraordinary session of the organization's Mejlis to develop a position on the early parliamentary elections scheduled for September 1. In a statement adopted today, the party's board notes that "once again, early elections have been scheduled in Azerbaijan without providing reasonable explanations to the people."

"Once again, on the eve of the elections to the Milli Majlis, as it was before in national elections, referendums, contrary to the calls of political structures and society, the necessary political reforms were not implemented. The restriction of the rights and freedoms necessary for democratic elections continues," the document says.

It is also pointed out that not only political prisoners are kept in custody;  their number is growing, in the run-up to the elections, arrests of journalists and activists have become widespread.

Calls for the authorities to make democratic changes to the electoral legislation, restore the proportional system of elections, ensure representation of political parties in election commissions, and provide them with equal conditions for election campaigning remained unanswered. 

The statement reads that “Musavat” will negatively affect the organization of the election campaign and voter activity, holding elections during the hot season, the holiday period.

The “Musavat” Party, recalling that in the current situation in the country, holding at least partial democratic elections is a "historical necessity", calls on the authorities to form a democratic election environment, ensure freedom of assembly, speech and expression, release all political prisoners, and take effective measures to ensure confidence in the activities of election commissions.