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German political analyst Alexander Rahr believes the EU, through the Venice Commission and other institutions that work closely with it, is trying to play the role of an overseer and teacher of Azerbaijan with regard to democracy.

He made this remark commenting the attacks on Azerbaijan by Western institutions and organizations upon the upcoming referendum to be held in Azerbaijan, which proposes amendments to the Constitution.

Azerbaijan will hold a referendum vote on proposed changes to the constitution of Azerbaijan on September 26, 2016.

“Democracy is based on people’s will and how it votes,” said Rahr, stressing that some European countries are disappointed by Azerbaijan’s declining an association with the EU.

The expert added that the EU can’t force Azerbaijan to sign an association agreement, as it tried to do that with Ukraine three years ago.

Rahr also said the EU wants to introduce a new partnership format to Azerbaijan and demonstrates that it will have a strict attitude towards those projects it has interest to cooperate on with Azerbaijan.

The expert believes this partially shows the EU’s misconception that this integration association is still a magnet for all post-Soviet countries.

In a bill recently sent to the Constitutional Court, President Ilham Aliyev proposed amendments to 29 Articles of Azerbaijan’s current constitution. The changes envisage the extension of the presidential term from five to seven years, the establishment of the first vice-president and vice-president positions in the country as well as the cancellation of minimum age limit for presidential candidates, dissolution of parliament by the president.

In the eve of the September 26 referendum, the Venice Commission suddenly made a sharp criticism of the proposed changes to the Constitution of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani authorities say that aim of the changes proposed in the Constitution is to ensure the operational activities of the central government, however, the Venice Commission is trying to interpret this wrongly.

The conclusion of the commission contains obvious mistakes far from reflecting the reality having technical mistakes, gaps and violated its internal procedures. It even made a reference to Article 159, which totally lacks.

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