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OSCE ODIHR makes public Interim Report No. 2 on upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan

02 October 2013 14:14 (UTC +04:00)

APA reports quoting the OSCE website that the report has been made on September 16-28 basing on the observation of pre-election situation and election campaign.

The report says that the official campaign began on 16 September and while it has been generally calm, it has been marred by some reported incidents of intimidation of family members of political figures: “To date, the campaign has lacked substantive debate and has focused on personality rather than concrete political platforms.”

It is also said that technical preparations for the election continue at all levels of the election administration. Voters can vote at 5,273 regular and 219 special polling stations in-country, as well as at 38 polling stations abroad. As of 14 September, the total number of registered voters was 5,016,365: “Restrictive legal provisions and a subsequent call by the CEC not to publish or broadcast any campaign material in favour or against a candidate appear to have limited the editorial coverage of the campaign in the media.”

The document also notes that The Baku Court of Appeals has so far received nine election appeals. Candidate registration appeals are still pending in the Supreme Court. As such, a rejected nominee, even if successful on appeal, would have a significantly reduced period to campaign.