Freedom House: Azeri fair elections unlikely after OSCE withdrawal

PanARMENIAN.Net - Following the September 11 announcement that restrictions imposed by Azerbaijan compel the cancellation of an election observer mission planned by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Freedom House, an independent watchdog organization, issued the following statement:

“The conditions imposed by President Aliyev's government on the European observer mission for the November 1 parliamentary elections make clear that Azerbaijanis risk having their votes stolen,” said Daniel Calingaert, executive vice president. “Members of the U.S. Congress should speak up for the people of Azerbaijan by calling on Aliyev's government to explain its actions and allow a comprehensive, credible election observation mission.”

Earlier, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) announced that the restricted number of election observers, counter to Azerbaijan’s OSCE commitments, “compelled” the cancellation of the election mission.

The European Parliament approved a resolution expressing “serious concern over the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation” in Azerbaijan, citing the parliament’s decision against sending an Election Observation Mission owing to limitations on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association.