CEC: Occupation of Azerbaijani lands harms electoral process

Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 3

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia inflicts great damage to electoral process and formation of experience in this area, Natig Mammadov, deputy chairman of Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission (CEC), said Sept. 3.

He was addressing a seminar on the review of appeals related to elections.

Mammadov said the IDPs aren't able to form municipalities and cast their votes in municipal elections.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Mammadov said an electoral system and electoral experience, based on certain traditions, has been formed in Azerbaijan.

"The success we have achieved in this area is obvious, which is also noted by international organizations cooperating with us," said Mammadov.

CEC's deputy chairman also didn't rule out presence of some shortcomings during election.

"Shortcomings aren't ruled out in elections held around the world, including in Azerbaijan, because an election is quite extensive process, which involves millions of people," said Mammadov.

He also noted that during the parliamentary election in Azerbaijan in 2010, some 267 complaints were received, while during municipal election in 2014 there were 96 complaints.

"These are very small figures for a process, which involves up to five million voters," he said. "However, it doesn't mean that we aren't responding to this."

"Our main goal is to prevent the violation of the voters' rights," said Mammadov.