EU Delegation Statement on the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan

12.02.2020
Strasbourg

1367th Meeting of the Ministers' Deputies (12 February 2020)

1. Early parliamentary elections took place in the Republic of Azerbaijan on 9 February 2020.

2. As noted by the International Election Observation Mission composed of observers from the OSCE/ODIHR, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, the Central Electoral Commission made concerted efforts to act transparently and was welcoming towards the International Election Observation Mission.

3. According to the International Election Observation Mission's preliminary assessment, despite a high number of candidates, the restrictive legislation and political environment prevented genuine competition in the elections.

4. In a number of cases against Azerbaijan, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled on violations which prevent the exercise of the right to stand in elections. The European Union deeply regrets that, since the Court's judgements have remained non-executed, some potential candidates were prevented from running, despite the call by the Committee of Ministers, in its December 2019 decision on the Ilgar Mammadov group of cases, for full restoration of civil and political rights of the persons concerned in time for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

5. The EU regrets that long standing recommendations by OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission still have to be addressed. The EU stands ready to assist in this process.

6. The EU looks forward to continuing dialogue and working closely with Azerbaijani institutions, including the newly elected Parliament, for the benefit of all citizens.