Azerbaijan - News Archive

Azerbaijan To Adopt New Law On Political Parties

Posted: 08/12/2009
Azerbaijani parliamentarian Siyavush Novruzov, who is deputy executive secretary of the ruling Yeni Azerbaycan Party, told journalists in Baku on August 10 that when it reconvenes for the fall session, the parliament plans to adopt a new law regulating the activities of, and funding for, political parties.

Read full story. Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Observers, Opposition Criticize Azerbaijani Presidential Election

Posted: 10/16/2008
Azeri President Ilham ALIEV won a landslide victory in the October 15 presidential election, winning 89 percent of the vote according to preliminary results. Azerbaijan's principal opposition parties boycotted the vote, arguing that participation was pointless given government curbs on democracy and media freedom, leaving ALIEV to compete against six independent and little known candidates. OSCE election monitors concluded that while the poll "marked considerable progress," it "did not reflect all principles of a meaningful democratic election." OSCE monitors reported concerns regarding a lack of electoral competition and limits on media freedom. Most troubling, the observers noted, were shortcomings "during the crucial phase of vote counting tabulation."

Source: ElectionGuide

Azerbaijan Opposition to Boycott Presidential Vote

Posted: 08/04/2008
On August 4, Azerbaijan's main opposition party, the Musavat Party, announced it will boycott the country's October 15 presidential elections. On the same day, the governing Yeni Azerbaijan Party's announced that it would nominate current President Ilham ALIEV to run for a second term in office. Explaining the move, Musavat Party Deputy Chief, Mekhman JAVADOGLU told Reuters news service that his party had decided not to participate in the upcoming presidential vote to protest "continued persecution of the opposition, a lack of normal and free conditions for holding an election and restrictions on campaigning." The opposition is planning protest actions during the campaign period. The government has stated that accusations of persecution are false and that the opposition must not be ready to compete. However, international organizations such as OSCE have condemned restrictions on freedom of the press and criticized the election process. According to recent opinion polls, an opposition boycott will not likely have a significant effect on the outcome of the presidential race - polls predict that ALIEV will win with approximately 70 percent of the vote.

Source: ElectionGuide

Azerbaijan to pull troops from Kosovo: official

Posted: 02/28/2008
BAKU (Reuters) - Azeri President Ilham Aliyev has asked parliament to vote to withdraw the ex-Soviet country's peacekeepers from Kosovo, an Azeri official said on Thursday.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Karabakh votes for sovereignty

Posted: 12/11/2006
A vast majority of people in Nagorno-Karabakh vote for a constitution declaring a sovereign state.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Azeri Parliament Approves New Members of the Central Election Commission

Posted: 06/16/2003
On June 13, members of the Azeri parliament approved new members of the country’s Central Election Commission. Under the constitution, the Election Commission is comprised of 15 members, six of whom are appointed by the president while the remaining nine must be chosen by the political parties within parliament. The commissioners will be overseeing the country’s upcoming presidential elections slated for October 15, with about 4 possible candidates competing as successors to incumbent President Heydar ALIYEV.

Source: ElectionGuide

Azerbaijan Announces Results of Referendum

Posted: 08/26/2002
Major opposition political parties have refused to accept the results of the August 24th constitutional referendum and have accused the government of manipulating the results . The referendum asked voters to accept or reject amendments to the country's constitution. According to election officials 88.43% of the country's voters cast their votes in the referendum, with 97% approving the constitutional changes. The opposition says that only 15% of the electorate turned out to vote, and reported several cases of election violations around the country.

Source: ElectionGuide

Azerbaijan's Constitutional Referendum Date Remains as Scheduled

Posted: 08/20/2002
Despite pressure from various international organizations, the politicians in Azerbaijan will continue with the August 24th referendum as planned. The referendum will decide on the constitutional amendments of the state, as well as the possibility of eliminating proportional representation in its parliamentary elections.

Source: ElectionGuide

Azerbaijan Announces Referendum Date of August 24

Posted: 07/01/2002
President Aliyev has announced that a referendum will be held on August 24 on several amendments to the constitution.  The Constitutional Court approved 39 amendments to the constitution on June 21. Amendments include the election of all parliamentary deputies from single-mandate constituencies, rather than the mix of seats allocated by proportional voting and single-mandate constituencies under the present system.

Source: ElectionGuide

Azeri Parliament Adopts New Electoral Law

Posted: 10/26/2001
On October 19, 2001, the Azeri parliament adopted a law handing over administration of referenda and municipal elections to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC). The CEC was previously only responsible for national-level elections.

Source: ElectionGuide

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