National Council Expresses Distrust of PACE Mission

The National Council of Democratic Forces of Azerbaijan issued a statement on the visit of the PACE fact-finding mission for the upcoming parliamentary elections and the final statement of the mission.

"Estimates of the PACE mission are nothing more than justification of the authoritarian regime and dictatorship in Azerbaijan," the National Council said.

The assessment of the situation on the eve of the elections in Azerbaijan by the mission is biased and reflects the position of official Baku. "For this reason, the National Council expresses distrust of the PACE mission."

The assessment of the pre-election situation in Azerbaijan by the mission does not include a word about 100 political prisoners or the one-sided formation of electoral commissions under the control of the ruling party, or the serious pressure on the opposition media and the opposition in general.

Such assessments are nothing but a proof and manifestation of "caviar diplomacy", when PACE deputies are bribed with expensive gifts.

On this basis, the National Council expresses its full distrust of Jordi Hoogla (Spain), Alexander Nikolsky (FYR Macedonia), Egemen Bakhish and Augustin Conde (Spain), the statement said. -05D-