ECtHR upholds complaints of two former candidates at parliamentary elections held in 2005 in Azerbaijan

On Tuesday, February 21, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found a violation of the rights to free elections of Beibaly Abil and Khangusein Aliev, two candidates at the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan in 2005.

At the parliamentary elections held in 2005, Abil was nominated a candidate for the deputy at the 11^th Garadag electoral precinct by the Classic Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PKNFA), and Aliev at the 58^th Gadjigabul-Kurdamir electoral precinct from the YeS block (block "New Policy").

According to Intigam Aliev, the head of the "Society of Legal Education" (SLE), who provided the Abil's defence, although both candidates had been registered, later, "their registration was cancelled without any legal grounds."

In both cases, the ECtHR found a violation of the complainants' rights guaranteed by Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and Article 3 (violations of right to free elections) of the protocol No. 1 of the Convention. The Strasbourg ECtHR has decided to pay each of them compensations amounted to 7500 euros. Abil is to receive additional compensation in the amount of 1600 euros for claim costs reimbursements.

The Azerbaijani Central Election Commission (CEC) refrained from commenting and stated that "the ECtHR's decisions do not affect the outcome of the elections in Azerbaijan and are related to the individual rights of persons."

See earlier reports: "HRW: human rights situation in Azerbaijan becomes worse", "ECtHR upholds complaints of Azerbaijani oppositionists against CEC decisions of 2005", "In Azerbaijan, oppositionists who united into "Public Chamber" are ready for new protests".