Azerbaijan failed to ensure democratic elections, EU observers say

The November 7 parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan were held in calm atmosphere with all the opposition parties involved; however, they demonstrated lack of significant progress in the democratic development of the country. This is said in today's joint statement spread in Baku by the international observer missions of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE, PACE and the European Parliament.

Observers note that "restrictions on the freedom of media and the freedom of assembly, as well as non-registration of some candidates resulted in further weakening of the opposition and made active political debates impossible." The restriction of the competitive environment has created unequal conditions for candidates, preventing the voters from making their reasonable and informed choice, runs the statement.

The voting as such was positively assessed at almost 90 percent of the visited polling stations; while serious problems were reported from 10 percent of them. Among the main reported problems were the cases, when packs of ballot papers were dropped into ballot boxes.

"Despite all the efforts, the country shall do much more to achieve real progress towards truly pluralistic democracy," said Wolfgang Grosruk, head of the short-term observation mission of the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly.