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By Trend

An observer mission of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS), headed by Deputy Chairman of Council of Federation of the Russian Federal Assembly Ilyas Umakhanov, is monitoring the constitutional referendum in Azerbaijan.

The mission began monitoring at the second polling station of the 29th Sabayil constituency in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Umakhanov said that everything has been at the highest level for decades in Azerbaijan in terms of organizational bases of holding both referendums and elections.

“The people who represent different international organizations also acknowledge this,” he said. “This is a universally recognized fact.”

“Substantive questions submitted for the referendum predetermine the future, as well as the democratic development of Azerbaijan, strengthening the democratic foundations of the Azerbaijani society,” Umakhanov added. “It is very important that the people’s expressing will and desire to take part in the referendum is absolutely free.”

“It is understood that the referendum means not only a support to the amendments to be made to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, but it is also a vote of confidence in the present leadership of the country,” he noted. “We see it this way.”

Referendum is the highest form of expression of will, Umakhanov said.

“I am sure Azerbaijani people will vote for progress, dignity and independence of Azerbaijan in holding political, economic and democratic reforms,” he added.

In total, the mission includes 22 observers – MPs and representatives of high legislative bodies of the six members of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Tajikistan) as well as employees of the IPA CIS Council Secretariat.

The voting for making amendments to Azerbaijan’s constitution kicked off at 08:00 and will wrap up at 19:00 (UTC/GMT +4).

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