Baku/11.02.20/Turan: The United States shares the observations and concerns of the OSCE ODIHR monitoring mission that the February 9 parliamentary elections transpired in a restrictive legislative and political environment that prevented genuine competition. The elections were marked by limitations on the freedom of media and assembly. We were disappointed by significant procedural violations observed by ODIHR on Election Day, including ballot box stuffing, group voting, a disregard of reconciliation procedures, and limited transparency during vote counting.
Azerbaijan has pledged to expeditiously investigate violations in the electoral process. It is clear from ODIHR’s report that many such violations have occurred. Investigating these and implementing OSCE ODIHR’s previous and forthcoming recommendations will be critical for Azerbaijan to live up to its commitments as a participating State of the OSCE, but more importantly to the people of Azerbaijan.
We remain committed to working with the government and people of Azerbaijan in their efforts to ensure a strong, stable, democratic, and prosperous future, reads the statement. -0-
Politics
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On Monday, hearings in the case of activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev continued at the Baku Court for Serious Crimes. At the beginning of the session, Hajiyev drew attention to the unjustified criminal prosecution of activist Raheel Abbasov, who had previously organized public defense for Hajiyev.
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On December 23, the trial of the head of the YouTube resource "Kanal-11" Teymur Kerimov, accused of extortion by threats, continued in the Baku Court of Grave Crimes.
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The head of Mossad (Israel's foreign intelligence service) David Barnea recommended to the country's political leadership strike Iran, not the Houthis, Ynet reported on December 22.
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Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov left for a working visit to Serbia on Monday.
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