OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for early presidential election in Azerbaijan

BAKU. Dec 29 (Interfax) - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) has opened an observation mission in Azerbaijan for monitoring the early presidential election at the official invitation from the Azerbaijani authorities.

The mission includes 11 international experts from nine countries and 26 long-term observers to be deployed throughout the country from January 3, and the ODIHR also plans to request 280 short-term observers to watch the electoral process on ballot day, head of the OSCE/ODIHR election monitoring mission in Azerbaijan Eoghan Murphy said at a press conference on Friday.

According to him, an interim report will be published two weeks before the election to update the public and the media, and a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference the day after the election (February 8).

A final report with an assessment of the entire election process and containing recommendations will be published some months after the election, Murphy said.

The mission has met with representatives of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, he said.

The OSCE/ODIHR has observed 12 Azerbaijani elections of various levels, including the parliamentary elections in 2020, Murphy said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ordered on December 7 that the early presidential election be held on February 7, 2024.

The Azerbaijani Central Elections Commission accepted applications from 15 candidates.

The president will be elected for seven years.

The previous presidential election was held in Azerbaijan in spring 2018.

Aliyev has been serving as the president since October 2003.