Azerbaijan, Baku, 26 February / Trend corr K. Ramazanova/ The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe (CE) believes the Azerbaijani citizens of the Armenian origin have the right to vote and should participate in the elections.
"Each citizen in the country, irrespective of his homeland, has the right to take part in the elections," a representative of the Venice Commission Sergey Kuznetsov told Trend in a telephone conversation from Strasburg on 26 February.
Previously, the head of the Azerbaijan Central Election Committee (CEC) Mazahir Panahov said that the Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin residing in Nagorno-Karabakh should have a right to vote and Azerbaijan is prepared to do that.
Due to the presidential elections taking place in October, in January the district election committees began to identify the electoral roll, which will be ready by the end of April. According to Panahov, Azerbaijan decided to resort the help of the international organizations when specifying the electoral roll in the Nagorno-Karabakh region which is occupied by Armenia. However, he accused the international organizations of being inactive.
The Venice Commission is ready to assist Azerbaijan only through recommendations.
"The Code of Recommended Regulations on Elections can be used in this connection," Kuznetsov said.
Last year, 4,218 electors were registered in the Khankendi constituency-122. There are 10 constituencies in Khankendi.