The Election Observation Mission (EOM) of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has officially started working in Azerbaijan, said Corien Jonker, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR EOM at a press conference held in Baku.

Jonker said that the long-term mission that will monitor the upcoming presidential election in Azerbaijan will arrive in the country next week.

The mission which is led by Corien Jonker consists of a core team of 10 experts based in Baku and 20 long-term observers to be deployed throughout the country from 15 March. In addition, ODIHR will request 280 short-term observers to monitor proceedings on election day. The experts and long-term observers are drawn from 19 countries.

The mission will assess the election for compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards and obligations for democratic elections, as well as with domestic legislation. Observers will follow the candidate registration process, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, implementation of the legal framework and the resolution of election disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.

In the course of its observation, the mission will meet with representatives of relevant authorities and of political parties, as well as with representatives of civil society, the media and the international community.

A statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued on the day after the election. A final report on the observation of the entire election process and including recommendations will be published approximately two months after the completion of the election process.

AZERTAC