The Council of Europe refuses to observe elections in Azerbaijan

On December 23, Azerbaijan will hold elections to local authorities. Press conference at the CEC of Azerbaijan  held on Monday was devoted to this topic. All 5015 polling stations are ready to vote. Of these, 4,887 points will operate continuously, and 128 - are temporary, said at a press conference the head of the Central Election Commission, Mazahir Panahov.

Elections will be held for 118 constituencies. In the ballot bulletins were included the names of candidates for 37077 15035 seats in 1607 municipalities, he said.

According to Panahov, eight political parties will participate  in the elections: "Yeni Azerbaijan", "Civil Solidarity", "Umid", the Social Democrats, the National Revival, democratic reforms, and the Great Revival of the Fatherland. Taking into account the individual participation in elections,members of 30 parties participate  in the elections, Panahov said,

The vote will  be followed by 50,551 local observers. As for the foreigners, the invitation was sent to the Council of Europe. "However, we were told that they could not come. We asked, but they refused, " complained Panahov.

 The he read a  "lecture" about that great enlightening  work done by the Central Election Commission in connection with the elections, and urged the media to actively cover the elections.

"If the press does not  write about it, so that they have some interest in this. If you notice something negative, be sure to tell us," Panahov  called on  journalists.

During the previous elections workers CEC urged the media not to exaggerate the negative phenomena and mind his own business. -03C-