Baku threatens to initiate criminal proceedings against observers on elections in Nagorno-Karabakh

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has warned foreign observers about possible criminal prosecution in the case of their arrival in Nagorno-Karabakh to monitor the elections. The OSCE Minsk Group co-Chairs claimed non-recognition of the results of the elections scheduled for Sunday, May 3.

"The fact of illegal 'parliamentary elections' contrived by the regime created in the occupied territories is a gross violation of the Constitution and laws of Azerbaijan and the norms and principles of international law. These 'elections' have no legal force," announces the today's statement made by Khikmet Gadjiev, the Spokesman of the Azerbaijani MFA.

Khikmet Gadjiev has emphasized that the actions of observers during the electoral process in Nagorno-Karabakh "will be treated as a flagrant violation of the laws of Azerbaijan, and criminal proceedings may be instituted against them."

Nevertheless, early observers began to arrive in Nagorno-Karabakh. On April 30, first three observers from France arrived in Stepanakert. In total, the elections are expected to be attended by more than 100 observers from foreign countries.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.