“Independent journalists continue to be harassed and after the murder of one of the most prominent critical journalists Elmar Huseinov also fear for their lives. Six months before holding of the parliamentary elections, some of the basic pre-conditions for holding free and fair elections – freedom of expression and the right to hold peaceful meetings – are not met”,  reads a statement of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) expressing concerns over the situation with the nearing parliamentary elections due November 6, 2005 in Azerbaijan.  (28-APR-2005)

Following the recent visit to Baku by the CE co-rapporteurs on honouring Azerbaijan’s obligations to CE, the Monitoring Committee of PACE is deeply concerned by the general political climate and mood in the country.

Parliamentary elections – test for democracy
The statement said that “these parliamentary elections represent a crucial test for democracy, especially after the fraud and the violence that marred the presidential election in October 2003 and the serious shortcomings of the municipal elections in December 2004.”

Media situation worse
Independent journalists continue to be harassed and after the murder of one of the most prominent critical journalists Elmar Huseinov also fear for their lives. The opposition press continue to face difficulties with printing and distribution and are strangled by disproportionately heavy fines. Television channels still lack pluralism. The opposition press continue to face difficulties with printing and distribution. It is essential that the Public television and the first television channel, which is in the process of privatisation, start operating as genuinely independent broadcasters as soon as possible.

Political opponents under pressure
The statement further said that although the latest presidential pardon decree freed the seven political opposition figures and other persons imprisoned in connection with the October 2003 presidential elections, as well as some political prisoners, these leaders cannot be involved in political activity since the Supreme Court upheld their sentences.
The opposition has almost no public means of conveying its message to the electorate. The mutual distrust and accusations are preventing constructive, if any, dialogue.

Amendment to Electoral Code
The PACE committee demanded that recent amendments to the Electoral Code be introduced in line with the recommendations of the Council of Europe Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR, especially with regard to the composition of the electoral commissions. It also called for lifting the restrictions on observation of elections by foreign-funded NGOs.

“Revolution can lead to bloodshed” 
With the prospect of enormous revenues flowing into the country from the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, and in an environment of wide-spread corruption, the stakes with regard to power and money are very high and so are the risks of them being defended at any price. Against this background, which hardly resembles that of Georgia and Ukraine, the speculation on both sides with the word “revolution” can lead to unforeseen consequences.

Ensure the free elections   
The PACE Monitoring Committee strongly urges both the authorities and the opposition to assume their responsibilities with regard to the people of Azerbaijan and realise that none of the country’s political, economic and social aspirations can be fulfilled without genuinely democratic, free and fair elections. The authorities should also realise that freedom of assembly and of expression are not simply formalistic obligations during a pre-election campaign but principles which have to exist permanently in the everyday life of a democratic country.