Musavat Leader Engages with OSCE Observers Ahead of Presidential Elections

In a critical prelude to Azerbaijan's upcoming extraordinary presidential elections on February 7, Arif Hajili, Chairman of the Musavat Party, held a meeting on January 19 with representatives from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission. The encounter featured Dominic Houel and Svetlana Chetaikina, who are integral members of the OSCE mission tasked with overseeing the electoral process.

The discussions spanned various facets of the upcoming elections, including the assessment of prospects for observation, the prevailing pre-election landscape within Azerbaijan, the intricacies of election legislation, and the pressing issue of the unlawful detention of 10 journalists and several political activists. Among those wrongfully apprehended is Musavat Party member Tofig Yagublu. Furthermore, attention was drawn to the case of Orkhan Hajili, a member of the Musavat Youth Organization and the son of Arif Hajili, who is currently subjected to house arrest.

The meeting, conducted at Musavat headquarters, saw the participation of Razim Amiraslanli, Deputy Head of the party, and Mustafa Hajibeyli, a member of the Divan. As Azerbaijan braces for the presidential elections, the engagement with OSCE observers assumes heightened significance in fostering transparency, fairness, and adherence to democratic norms during the electoral process.