Venetian Commission: amendments to Constitution of Azerbaijan contradict European standards

On March 16, the Venetian Commission of the Council of Europe (CE) promulgated its multi-page document with a legal examination of the amendments to the Constitution of Azerbaijan offered for the referendum to be held on March 18.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed at the Baku-based office of the CE that the document consists of 5 sections dealing with each of the novelties offered to the Constitution. The conclusion gives a general legal estimate to the draft Referendum Act. It is noted that some of the amendments "will improve the Constitution."

At the same time, "there are reasons for concern, related to very negative issues affecting the democracy," the Venetian Commission's report emphasizes. In this sense, "a special concern" of the Commission was caused by cancellation of the restriction for one person to be elected President of the country for no more than two times in a row. "This amendment strengthens the current strong positions of the incumbent head of Azerbaijan, which does not completely meet the European democratic standards," runs the legal conclusion of the Venetian Commission.

Right after the promulgations of the report, on March 16, Yan Mikallef, Acting President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE), again addressed Arthur Rasizade, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan with a request to postpone the referendum on amendments to the Constitution from March 18 to some later date.