OSCE Mission on evaluating pre-election situation in Azerbaijan gave its first report. According to the information given by APA, the report informs that 7 candidates have been registered for the participation in the presidential elections, the registration of 3 people have been refused and several oppositional parties have boycotted the elections. In the document it is also noted that the last additions and amendments to the Election Code of the Azerbaijan Republic are in line with the recommendations of OSCE and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.
According to the information given by APA, the report informs that 7 candidates have been registered for the participation in the presidential elections, the registration of 3 people have been refused and several oppositional parties have boycotted the elections. In the document it is also noted that the last additions and amendments to the Election Code of the Azerbaijan Republic are in line with the recommendations of OSCE and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.
The document also shows that the election commissions are not completely formed and the opposition has refused to participate in this process. “Besides it, CEC participate actively in the preparation process and regularly hold meetings” is stressed in the report.
The report gives the information on the participation of 4,8 million Azerbaijan citizens in the elections and the publication of the voting lists on September 10. In the document it is also noted that the election campaign has started on September 17 and there are some concerns about the situation of Mass Media in the country. To hold a campaign on TV on the additions and amendments to the Election Code is prohibited, free programs about the elections can only be broadcast on Public TV. The Mission has started the monitoring of 7 TV channels and 4 newspapers since September 5.
It is stated in the report that the special commissions are created to investigate the complaints due to the amendments to the Election Code. But these commissions are mostly composed from the members of the commissions and expert lawyers.