Statement by the Ombudsman on Observations Conducted on Election Day

The Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, made a public statement regarding the observations conducted during the early parliamentary elections held on the 1^st September.

The Ombudsman highlighted that, observations were conducted at polling stations established across the country during the elections. It was noted that the necessary conditions, as stipulated by law, were provided at the polling stations to ensure that citizens could exercise their electoral rights.

The statement indicates that, based on positive experience from previous years, the Ombudsman, along with 72 employees from the Ombudsman Institution and the Ombudsman Office of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, independently conducted observations at 897 polling stations within 117 constituencies across the country during the early parliamentary elections. These observations took place in Baku, 42 other cities and districts across the country, and in the autonomous republic. Furthermore, observations were carried out at polling stations organized in the Training and Education Center of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the Heydar Aliyev Military Academy, and 16 penitentiary institutions.

It was noted that during the observations, the Ombudsman directly met with members of precinct election commissions, observers, and voters to learn their opinions about the voting process. No cases of violations or interference by any state institutions, including representatives of executive authorities or police officers, were observed.

S. Aliyeva emphasized that observers representing political parties, public associations, non-governmental organizations, as well as independent and neutral observers, participated in the process in an orderly manner and with mutual respect, fulfilling their duties within the scope of their authority. She also noted that conditions were provided for voters with disabilities to exercise their rights. On election day, no complaints or appeals regarding the violation of electoral rights were received by the Ombudsman Office.

The Ombudsman stated that, as a result of the observations, the parliamentary elections were conducted in an orderly manner, with high voter turnout, and were democratic, free, transparent, and fair, in accordance with election legislation and international standards.

Providing information about the activities carried out in the lead-up to the early parliamentary elections, the Ombudsman stated that the Ombudsman institution and the Central Election Commission organized a series of awareness-raising events on "Ensuring Citizens' Electoral Rights" in Baku, Ganja, Sheki, Masalli, Guba, and Nakhchivan. S. Aliyeva noted that from the day the decision to hold the elections was officially announced, observations were conducted in designated open and closed areas where election campaigning was permitted. Moreover, the Ombudsman assessed the state of ensuring citizens' electoral rights and compliance with election legislation requirements.

In conclusion, the Ombudsman emphasized that citizens' fundamental right to vote was ensured in accordance with the legislation during the early parliamentary elections