ODIHR begins monitoring of Azerbaijan's presidential election

BAKU, 4 September 2008 - Following an invitation from Azerbaijan's Government, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) this week deployed an election observation mission to observe the 15 October presidential election in Azerbaijan.

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.

The ODIHR observers will assess the entire election process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. The mission will focus on the legislative framework and its implementation, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, the election campaign and the media situation, the access of domestic observers and the resolution of election-related disputes.

ODIHR has requested that OSCE participating states contribute 450 short-term observers for election day itself. The short-term observers will be deployed in teams of two throughout Azerbaijan to monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results.

ODIHR has observed several elections in Azerbaijan, including the 2005 parliamentary elections, the 2003 presidential election and the 2000-2001 parliamentary elections. The office has also issued several opinions and reviews of election-related legislation of Azerbaijan, together with the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.

The ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Office in Baku, headed by Ambassador Jose-Luis Herrero, operate separately under their specific mandates.