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By Danielle Saroyan
Armenian Agenda Associate Editor
On November 2, the United States Department of State Office of Press Relations Director Elizabeth Trudeau released a statement regarding Azerbaijan’s parliamentary elections. Trudeau pointed out the absence of OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) observers to monitor the elections, and expressed concerns on the Azerbaijani Government’s restrictions on fundamental freedoms.
“We continue to have concerns about the restrictive political environment in Azerbaijan and urge the Government of Azerbaijan to respect the freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, and independent voices including the media as part of its international commitments, and to work with the OSCE, including ODIHR, to this end,” the statement read.
Below is the Press Statement on Azerbaijan’s Parliamentary Elections (or click here).
Department of State
Press Statement by Elizabeth Trudeau, Director
Office of Press Relations
Washington, D.C.
November 2, 2015
The United States notes that Azerbaijan held parliamentary elections on November 1.
We regret that the Government of Azerbaijan did not allow the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to field its necessary number of observers, and therefore ODIHR was not able to monitor the elections. Without ODIHR participation, it is impossible for us to say that Azerbaijan has made progress on ODIHR’s previous election observation recommendations, which identified and sought to address limitations to fundamental freedoms.
We continue to have concerns about the restrictive political environment in Azerbaijan and urge the Government of Azerbaijan to respect the freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, and independent voices including the media as part of its international commitments, and to work with the OSCE, including ODIHR, to this end. We remain committed to working with the government and people of Azerbaijan in their effort to ensure a strong, stable, democratic, and prosperous future.