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YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijani Civil Society Coalition "For transparent and fair elections" presented an analysis of the pre-election situation in Azerbaijan. The presentation, held at the International Press Center looked at election monitoring and recommendations, with a particular focus on electoral law.
Experts prepared documents that were presented to the public from the members of the coalition, having significant experience in monitoring elections in Azerbaijan. According to Coordinator Arzu Abdullayeva, this civil society organization decided to bring their contribution to the democratic environment in an election year.
As reports Armenpress, referring to contact.az, authorities believe that the existing conditions guarantee democratic elections and are unwilling to change the law that, according to the opposition and independent NGOs, does not create the conditions for a fair election, and especially for the voters, said Mehman Aliyev, Director of the Turan News Agency. He presented a paper entitled "Analysis of the pre-election situation in Azerbaijan.”
Aliyev noted that analysis of the legislation and recent protests in the country is not calming. "If you save the legislation in its current form, the authorities will inevitably turn the individual grievances into a single channel of protest across the country, because almost all the population is part of one process - the election of the president. And universal violation will inevitably provoke universal protests."
The analytical report highlighted 32 specific violations that occurred during previous elections, which could be repeated if the current electoral law and other laws limiting the activities of political parties, NGOs and the media are retained.
The Coalition has concluded that the Azerbaijani government has an obligation to review current legislation and bring it in line with international laws.