15 October 2008, 14:13

Norwegian Helsinki Committee: Azerbaijan lacks room for free elections

The presidential election in Azerbaijan are taking place in the atmosphere, where free and fair elections are impossible, runs the statement of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (Den Norske Helsingforsko Mite), now at disposal of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Main preconditions for fair elections are public debates, free press and equal terms for all political forces of the country. "Azerbaijan has nothing of the case," runs the statement.

The observers mark regretfully that the major opposition has refused to taken part in the election, and their decision to boycott the event is understandable; the observers emphasize that for many years the oppositional forces work in the conditions of prosecution and were granted only a conditional right to participate in political processes.

"At the same time, none of the elections held during the latest decade were just and fair. Falsifications of outcomes and inadequate attitude to pro-governmental forces and oppositions have been widespread. The government has failed to set up minimal conditions for public meetings, which is a breach of the fundamental law of any elections - the freedoms of assembly," the statement further runs.

"It becomes clear that the incumbent President Ilham Aliev will be proclaimed the winner of the election. By using this opportunity, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee has addressed Ilham Aliev calling him to take all the necessary steps for making the society open and allowing the press to exist freely," the statement emphasizes.

At the same time, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee urges the international community to strengthen the pressure on the government of Azerbaijan with the aim to release all political prisoners, ensure the work of the free press, and create equal terms for all political forces.

Author: Faik Medzhid, CK correspondent

Комментирование через Кавказский узел
All news
НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН И РАСПРОСТРАНЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ООО “МЕМО”, ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ООО “МЕМО”.

April 02, 2025 22:55

  • Verdict to Sochi resident Schus upheld

    The appellate court has refused to change the sentence passed to Alexei Schus, a Sochi engineer, convicted on charges of spreading fake news about the Russian Army and making a slingshot.

April 02, 2025 21:15

  • Kurban Dalgatov's mother assess trial prospects of her son's death case

    The law enforcers guilty of the death of Kurban Dalgatov, a Makhachkala resident, are trying in every way to avoid punishment, while the judges are following their lead, the mother of Kurban, who died after being tortured by the police. The trial of Dalgatov's death case will continue on April 30 this year.

April 01, 2025 22:38

April 01, 2025 21:57

April 01, 2025 21:42

News archive
Пн
Вт
Ср
Чт
Пт
Сб
Вс
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4