Mazahir Panahov, the Chairman of the Central Elections Commission (CEC), in talks with journalists, stated that a statement issued by the Council of Europe Congress of Regional & Local Authorities in connection with the 6 October municipal elections, contained some obscure information, Trend reports. Even if we were to annul the results of polls in all the 10 polling stations where the monitoring was held, this would not affect the results of the voting, he stressed.
With respect to the Council of Europe Congress of Regional and Local Authorities, Panahov stressed that the international observers sometimes exaggerate the shortages. If they are aware that the said violations would not affect the general results, then why have they been so critical? The CE observers did not provide us with the official information and did not appeal in connection with regards to the shortages. They stated that the elections took place in a quiet and normal manner,' the Chairman of the CEC stated.
He also did not agree with the CE observers' opinions on the inexperience of members of the low-laying election commissions.