Violations in early elections undermine their legitimacy – Alliance of Observers
The early parliamentary elections on September 1 were accompanied by serious violations, which dealt a blow to their democratic legitimacy, a statement by the Election Observation Alliance (EOA), which monitored the elections by a group of local experts and short-term observers. The political and legal environment of the elections was characterized by the concentration of power with the weakening of the opposition, which calls into question the fairness and transparency of the elections.
From the very beginning of the election campaign, the political environment was unfavorable for the elections. The dominance of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party limited pluralism and seriously hampered the participation of opposition forces. In addition, the activities of political parties were limited by the new law on parties adopted in 2022.
The broad resources of the ruling party seriously suppressed the activities of independent candidates and their opportunities during the election campaign. The TV channels did not devote any space to the candidates' debates, did not create opportunities for different opinions.
The events of polling day have only increased anxiety and faith in fair elections. Thus, persons who were not on the voter lists participated in the voting, there was voting by persons without an identity card, mass stuffing of ballots into ballot boxes, repeated voting by the same persons.
There were facts of pressure on observers, expelling them from polling stations, not allowing them to count votes. All this indicates that the elections did not meet democratic standards and casts doubt on the results of the elections and undermines public confidence in the electoral process.
Fundamental reforms are needed to eliminate these problems, including restoring political pluralism, improving electoral legislation, equal opportunities for all candidates, increasing transparency of the electoral process and creating an independent media environment, the document says.
Politics
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President Ilham Aliyev’s trip to the Kalbajar region.
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BAKU, 2 September 2024 – Azerbaijan's early parliamentary elections did not offer voters genuine political alternatives and took place within a legal framework overly restrictive of fundamental freedoms and the media, although they were efficiently prepared, international observers said in a statement today.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that “If the Armenian authorities have a desire for direct negotiations with Azerbaijan without Russia's participation to resolve the crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, then "for God's sake,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday, speaking to teachers and students of the Moscow University of International Relations. Lavrov also noted that on the issue of delimitation of the state border, the Russian Federation should consult this process between the participants, but this is not happening.
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During the special elections for the Milli Mejlis at polling station 13 in the 23rd Nasimi-Sabail electoral district at School No. 23, violations occurred, Rahida Rahimova, a member of the electoral commission with an advisory vote representing the independent candidate Eldar Ismayilov told Turan agency. "Everything was transparent in the morning, but problems began in the afternoon, and after voting concluded, the continuity of the election process was disrupted," said Rahimova.
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