400 OSCE ODIHR observers will monitor the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan

Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at the invitation of the Azerbaijani authorities monitored the parliamentary elections in November 1, 2015, says the report, the ODIHR assessment mission that visited Azerbaijan on August 12-14 with the study mission. Monitoring will spend 30 long-term and 350 short-term observers. The report assessed the pre-election atmosphere and preparations for the elections. In particular, it notes that a number of previous ODIHR recommendations on the improvement of the electoral legislation and practice remain unresolved. This applies to the formation of election commissions, registration of candidates, complaints mechanisms.

It is recalled that the electoral commissions at all levels is formed by a third party in power, a third independent members and one-third - parties of the parliamentary minority. All commissions are headed by representatives of the ruling party. This gives the pro-government forces control of all commissions and undermines confidence in the impartiality of the election administration. It  adds to the lack of legal guarantees for the promotion of women candidates. Women are underrepresented in the public service. In the outgoing parliament, they held 16% of the seats, and the government only 1 of the 42 ministerial posts.

In Azerbaijan there is a serious problem  in  the respect of fundamental freedoms, the systematic prosecution of government critics; intimidation of voters and potential candidates of the opposition in the run-up to elections.

The atmosphere in the society adversely affects the media, as well as lawsuits and other forms of pressure on journalists.

Independent observers have expressed lack of confidence in the independence of the electoral authorities to resolve the dispute. Several civil society organizations have declared their intention to observe the elections. However, lack of financial resources restricts their activities. As a result of recent changes in legislation, civil society virtually devoid of foreign funding.  Representatives of the authorities assured that the electoral process will be transparent and recommendations  of the OSCE/ODIHR observation process improvement would be welcome.

Earlier, the ODIHR observed  nine elections in Azerbaijan. The last time the recommendations were put forward after the presidential election in 2013, however, the authorities did not react to the suggestions and recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR. Finally, on  July 4, 2015 in Baku was closed the office of OSCE Project Coordinator in Azerbaijan.

The campaign  is taking place  on the background of tightening  legal requirements for registration and reporting and funding of NGOs.  Representatives of the Central Election Commission and other state authorities, as well as most of the other interlocutors assessment mission noted the importance of election monitoring by the OSCE/ODIHR.

Other  participants noted the  challenging environment for the elections and asked the OSCE/ODIHR to send observers to cover all stages of the electoral process, with particular emphasis on the work of election commissions, registration of candidates, respect for freedom of expression and assembly, as well as procedures on election day.

Based on the findings of this report, the decision was adopted  on deploying the monitoring mission in the elections November 1st. In addition to the main group of  experts  the ODIHR will ask to second 30 long-term observers to monitor the electoral process in the country and 350 short-term observers on election day to observe the process of voting, counting votes , reads the report.—06D-