Azerbaijan Election Commission Rejects Political Scientist's Candidacy

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan has informed Elhan Shainoglu, a political scientist and head of the Atlas Analytical Center, that his candidacy for the upcoming parliamentary elections has been rejected. Shainoglu disclosed the decision via social media platform X, stating that the CEC notified him by phone, just 30 minutes before the expiration of the seven-day response period.

Shainoglu claimed that he and his team collected 500 signatures within three days and submitted them to the CEC. He expressed frustration over the timing of the notification, which he says was delivered just before the deadline.

In addition, Shainoglu accused the head of the Aghdam district police department of exerting pressure on his supporters through the dissemination of false information. He urged the district police chief to adhere to legal standards, warning of potential pre-trial detention for alleged misconduct.

The parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan are scheduled for September 1, 2024. Over 2,000 candidates have registered for the 125 seats in the Milli Majlis.