EU urges Azerbaijan to deal with election 'shortcomings'
MOSCOW – The European Union's top diplomat said parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan did not constitute "meaningful progress" in the country's democratic development, and urged the authorities to deal with "shortcomings" reported by international observers, RIA-Novosti reported.
"The parliamentary elections in the Republic of Azerbaijan were characterized by a peaceful atmosphere and that all opposition parties participated in the political process, but that the conduct of these elections overall was not sufficient to constitute meaningful progress in the democratic development of the country," Catherine Ashton said.
"I call on the Azerbaijani authorities to address these shortcomings as well as the problematic issues identified by OSCE/ODHIR in the course of the electoral process," she said.
Ashton also called on the authorities to enhance their efforts to honor their international commitments regarding issues of democracy, with a particular regard to "ensuring and strengthening democratic pluralism, media freedom, and freedom of assembly."
Azerbaijan's ruling party Yeni Azerbaijan won Sunday's parliamentary elections, gaining more than 70 seats in the 125-seat legislative assembly. The opposition claims the vote was rigged.
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