Azerbaijan held parliamentary elections on November 1. Unfortunately, the Government of Azerbaijan did not allow the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, or ODIHR, to field its necessary number of observers, and therefore ODIHR was not able to monitor the elections.
Without the participation of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, or OSCE, said Director of the Office of Press Relations at State Department Elizabeth Trudeau, “it is impossible for us to say that Azerbaijan has made progress on. . . previous election observation recommendations, which identified and sought to address limitations to fundamental freedoms.”
The United States continues to have concerns about the restrictive political environment in Azerbaijan, and has urged the government of Azerbaijan to respect the freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, and independent voices including the media as part of its international commitments. The United States remains committed to working with the government and people of Azerbaijan in their effort to ensure a strong, stable, democratic and prosperous future.
