Azernews.Az

A senior Azerbaijani official has said the government "would not allow a biased approach" to October 15 presidential elections.
Speaking to reporters a day after the vote, the head of the President`s Office socio-political department, Ali Hasanov, called on international observers to fairly evaluate the compliance of elections with international standards.
Hasanov said no one had the right to cast a doubt on an election in which the overwhelming majority of citizens participated and made their choice.
"Everything that is deemed by the Azerbaijani people as legitimate should be deemed as such by institutions, as well, otherwise, the activity of those institutions is of no importance to us," Hasanov said.
He said some international groups exercised a double standard approach to the elections.
"They are approaching differently to this and other issues, in order to retain their leverage of influence on a given country. We have been witnessing this for so many years."
Hasanov said Wednesday`s poll was held on a higher level than any recent presidential elections held in the South Caucasus states.
Commenting on some opposition parties` boycott, he said: "This is not our fault. President Ilham Aliyev`s gaining 88% of votes, commanding nationwide support, and, as a result, the opposition`s intentional failure to take part in the elections and knowing beforehand that they would lose is not our fault. If the Azerbaijani people support one man, this can`t be blamed on him."
At the same time, Hasanov said the opposition that boycotted the vote should, on the contrary, take part in elections in the future, if it is seeking to remain part of Azerbaijani society.
"If it doesn`t, its place will be taken by an opposition that will join elections. As a government, we will be carrying out institutional cooperation with these parties," the presidential administration official added.*