News

Azerbaijan: Parliament of Azerbaijan passed changes to election law (2008)

On 2nd June the Parliament of Azerbaijan adopted changes to Election Code. The amended draft took into account the remarks made by a representative of the Azerbaijani presidential administration. Most of the recommendations of the Venice Commission were ignored.

Azerbaijan’s coming Presidential election must demonstrate the country’s democratic commitment, says PACE President in Baku (2008)

Strasbourg, 03.07.2008 – October’s Presidential election in Azerbaijan must demonstrate the country’s commitment to democratic reforms, according to Lluís Maria de Puig, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), speaking at the end of an official visit to the country (1-3 July 2008).

Azerbaijan: Presidential candidates can be nominated until late August, Today.az (2008)

Presidential candidates can be nominated until late August, CEC Chairman Mazahir Panakhov said, APA reports.

Azerbaijan: Head of OSCE Baku office: "500 international representatives will monitor presidential elections this year, Today.az (2008)

An information session on facts of interference with the voting process was organized in Shirvan by the OSCE Baku office, the Central Election Commission and the OIC presidential administration. Head of the OSCE Baku office Jose Luis Guerrero Ansola noted that 500 international observers will monitor elections this year.

Azerbaijan: Officials plan for "problem-free" Presidential election , EurasiaNet (2008)

In looking ahead to a presidential election in Azerbaijan later this year, officials are emphasizing a sense of calm and continuity, and opposition leaders are divided among themselves. As a result, campaign season has been almost eerily quiet so far.

Azerbaijan: Party of Democratic Reforms to hold session in Baku, Today.az (2008)

The session of the Party of Democratic Reforms, functioning in Azerbaijan, will be held on July 19, said spokesman for the party Ulkar Abdullayeva. One of the discussed questions will be the issue of the form of the party's participation in the upcoming presidential elections.

Azerbaijan: Opposition Party leader Isa Qambar meets with representatives of German Marshall Fund, Today.az (2008)

Musavat opposition leader Isa Qambar met with representatives of German Marshall Fund. The sides came to an agreement about the need for cooperation between Musavat and GMF.

Azerbaijan: For one election monitoring group, Seeing is Believing, Eurasianet (2008)

A recent court decision to cancel the registration of Azerbaijan’s largest election observation group has sparked concerns about the ability of non-governmental organizations to monitor the country’s upcoming October 15 presidential vote. On May 14, a Baku district court upheld an earlier decision by the Ministry of Justice to revoke the registration of the Election Monitoring Center (EMC), a non-partisan domestic monitoring organization. Minor technical issues, including inconsistent addresses, were the cited cause.

Head of Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission meets with Venice Commission secretary, Today.az (2008)

Chairman of Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission Mazahir Panakhov met today with secretary of the CE Venice Commission Gianni Bukikkio and commission expert Sergey Kuznetsov, reports the press service for the Central Election commission.

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Azerbaijan Social-Democratic Party planning to hold plenum to define candidate for presidency, Today.az (2008)

Azerbaijan's Social-Democratic Party is planning to hold a plenum in late July, said party co-chairman Araz Alizade. He noted that during the plenum the party will discuss the party candidacy for presidency.

Azerbaijan: Opposition mulls presidential election boycott, EurasiaNet (2008)

Azerbaijani opposition leaders are condemning recent election code amendments, which they claim will scuttle any hopes for a free-and-fair vote in the upcoming October 15 presidential election. At the same time, they remain divided over the best way to respond.

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Safa Mirzayev: "Introduction of amendments to the Election Code at the spring session of Parliament is not ruled out ", Today.Az (2008)

Introduction of amendments to the Election Code and the law on freedom of assembly of Azerbaijan is not ruled out during the spring session of the Azerbaijani Parliament, according to Safa Mirzayev, head of the Parliament Office.

Azerbaijan's first lady declared most active deputy protecting rights of her voters, Today.Az (2008)

This article is about that the president of Heydar Aliyev's foundation, deputy Mehriban Aliyeva was declared the most active deputy, who protects the rights of her voters, according to the results.

Politicians gear up for next year's presidential election, Eurasianet.org (2007)

An article about the next year's presidential elections in Azerbaijan.

Financial Times: "Few doubt that Ilham Aliyev, the current president of Azerbaijan, will win a second term in office at a general election this October", Today.Az (2008)

The British Financial Times newspaper published a series of articles on Azerbaijan on January 25.

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Venice Commission’s Opinion on Public Distrust on Election Commissions is Biased: Azerbaijani Central Election Commission, Trend News (2008)

Azerbaijan, Baku, 1 July / corr. Trend News I.Alizade / The Azerbaijani Central Election Commission (CEC) regarded the Council of Europe (CE) Venice Commission’s opinion on public distrust to the election commission of the country as biased.

Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan Prepared for Discussions to Simplify Content of Election Code, Trend News (2008)

Azerbaijan, Baku, 15 July/ TrendNews, corr E. Babayev/ The Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC) is ready to hold discussions with the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe to shorten and simplify the text of the Election Code. “I assess shortening of the text of the Election Code positively,” Mazahir Panahov, CEC chairman said to journalists on 15 July.

Non-Participation of Some Oppositional Parties Cannot Hurt Legitimacy of Elections: CEC Chairman, Trend News (2008)

Azerbaijan, Baku, 15 July / Trend News / E.Babayev / The Azerbaijani Central Elections Commission (CEC) stated that non-participation of some oppositional parties in the elections cannot damage the legitimacy of the process.

Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan Increases Number of Training Group Members, Trend News (2008)

The number of the members of the training group at the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC) is being further increased. “A secretariat has been set up in the district election commissions recently and workers employed there will become involved in the training groups as a result of which the members of the training group will reach about 267,” Mazahir Panahov, CEC chairman said in the training organized by the Central Election Commission and Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.

Venice Commission of Council of Europe Calls on Azerbaijani Opposition to Take Part in Presidential Elections, Trend News (2008)

he Council of Europe called on the Azerbaijani opposition to take part in the presidential elections. “There are certain rules of political games all over the world and every political power must take part in the voting,” Gianni Buquicchio, Secretary of the Venice Commission said to media in Baku on 15 July.

President of Azerbaijan to be nominated as official candidate for presidency, Today.az (2008)

The fourth session of the ruling party Yeni Azerbaijan nominated the incumbent president and party chairman Ilham Aliyev as a candidate for presidency.

Azerbaijan: Central Electoral Commission announced the Election Day (2008)

Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan (CEC) conducted its session headed by Mr. Mazahir Panahov on July 28, 2008. CEC Chairman reported on the activities carried out by the Commission up to date and declared 15 October 2008 as the date of Presidential Elections.