U.S. shares OSCE concerns on Azerbaijan election, says State Department

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. The United States shares the OSCE’s concerns regarding the parliamentary election in Azerbaijan, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has said.

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights concluded that Azerbaijan’s early parliamentary election on September 1 did not offer voters genuine political alternatives and took place within a legal framework overly restrictive of fundamental freedoms and the media.

“So, we share the observation and concerns of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights monitoring mission regarding the Azerbaijani September 1st parliamentary election,” Miller said at a press briefing. “And we urge Azerbaijan to implement the OSCE’s previous recommendations as well as ones that we understand to be forthcoming, and enable the exercise of fundamental freedoms by its people consistent with its constitution and international commitments.”

Azerbaijan’s ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), led by President Ilham Aliyev, has claimed victory in the election. YAP will have 68 out of 125 seats in parliament.

The EU has also called on Azerbaijan to implement OSCE recommendations.