The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) deployed an election observation mission to observe presidential election in Azerbaijan.
The mission’s Baku headquarter has been opened on Thursday. The mission headed by Ambassador Boris Frlec of Slovenia includes 12 core team members and 28 long-term observers from 23 OSCE participating States. The election observation mission will be joined by approximately 450 short-term observers shortly before election day.
Boris Frlec said the mission has already held meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and central Election Commission. Members of the mission intend to meet with the candidates and public figures as well. The election observation mission will make its first report third week of September and next report early October. Boris Frlec said one of the important aspects in current phase was monitoring of press. “Our duty is monitoring, but not interference. We are only monitoring and making reports and recommendations. We don’t make conclusion on the legitimacy of election. OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights will make its opinion together with its partners from PACE next day after the election. The mission will end its activity later October and will make final report two months later”. /APA/