ODIHR promises honest monitoring

“Our task is not criticism, but monitoring the elections,"  said Tana de Zulueta, the head of the OSCE ODIHR observation mission to the presidential elections in Azerbaijan, at a press conference.

According to her, the mission will monitor the compliance of the elections with the international standards and norms for democracy, as well as the obligations of Azerbaijan adopted by the OSCE.

According to her, the mission started its work on August 29, and will follow the progress of the election campaign, the work of the CEC, the media coverage of the elections, etc.

She also noted that the observers of the mission will be sent to all regions of the country.

Asked the question on the non-registration of the main opposition candidate, Rustam Ibrahimbayov, the head of the mission said that the CEC was motivated to refusal by Ibrahimbayov’s dual citizenship.

She noted that the mission will closely monitor the events. The long-term mission, headed by Tana de Zulueta, consists of 13 people. Another 30 people will be sent to the regions. A short-term OSCE mission will include 280 people.

Since 1995, the OSCE ODIHR has monitored eight elections in Azerbaijan, including presidential and parliamentary elections. -16D-