Presidential Elections In Azerbaijan

[Armen]

Joint statement on presidential election in Azerbaijan

 

BAKU, 16 October 2003 - Voting in the 15 October Azerbaijan presidential election was generally well administered in most polling stations but the overall election process still fell short of international standards in several respects. International observers noted a number of irregularities in the counting and tabulation.

 

These are the conclusions of the International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) in Baku, deployed by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe. The Mission published its preliminary findings today, based on the work of some 600 observers, including more than 40 parliamentarians.

 

"We are worried about tensions arising from the low level of mutual trust within society," said Giovanni Kessler, Head of Delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Special Co-ordinator of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office for the Short-Term OSCE Observation Mission. "We urge all parties to exercise restraint. This election shows an increased vitality of political life and serious efforts in Azerbaijan towards democracy and international standards."

 

Guillermo Martines Casan, Head of Delegation of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, said: "We hope this election could mark the beginning of a new era in Azerbaijan in which progress could be achieved through trust, confidence-building and co-operation of all democratic forces in the country. A good development of the election process is crucial for the democratic credentials of the State. We ask all political actors to adhere to legality and democratic standards when defending their legitimate, different, political ideas."

 

Peter Eicher, Head of the ODIHR Observation Mission, commented: "This election has been a missed opportunity for a genuinely democratic election process. We were particularly troubled by the level of intimidation and unequal conditions for candidates during the campaign. Future progress towards democratic elections will depend first and foremost on the political will of the authorities."

 

Of special concern were numerous instances of violence, including on election night. In general, campaign conditions were manifestly unequal. A pattern of intimidation against opposition supporters overshadowed the political atmosphere. Access of opposition candidates to state and independent media, apart from free airtime, was severely out of balance. Opposition candidates were faced with serious restrictions on political rallies.

 

There were nonetheless some positive aspects. Voters had a genuine choice among eight candidates. There was an active campaign, with public participation. Opposition candidates were able to criticize the authorities. The new election code incorporated more safeguards against fraud. The Central Election Commission published immediate and detailed precinct results, as requested. This gave an unprecedented degree of transparency to the election.

 

The Institutions comprising the IEOM stand ready to continue their dialogue with the authorities and civil society of Azerbaijan to address the concerns arising from these elections.

[Armen]

Azerbaijani elections may show Armenian one in better light - Armenian paper

 

Aykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan

15 Oct 03

 

October entitled "Two in Baku"

 

Today presidential elections take place in Azerbaijan. Undoubtedly

the Armenian authorities attach great hopes to these elections. They

hope that the they will be conducted in such a shameful way that,

against this background, the elections conducted in Armenia in

February-March 2003 will be considered free, fair and transparent. It

must be said that such hopes by our authorities are not groundless,

almost all the authoritative, international organizations have already

announced today that there is no basis for thinking that the elections

in Azerbaijan will be conducted according to democratic norms. Let

us recall that in the case of Armenia they said that free and fair

elections could take place. So it is probable that the Azerbaijani

elections will soften the shameful Armenian elections in the eyes of

the world community. But here a second problem may arise during the

autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

[PACE]. The Council of Europe did not punish Armenia only because,

according to the adopted principle, decisions regarding Armenia and

Azerbaijan are always adopted simultaneously. So it is very possible

that in January, during the winter session of PACE, Azerbaijan and

Armenia will be punished at the same time, especially since it is

expected that the issue of the South Caucasus democratic institutions

situation is discussed in the Council of Europe. This prospect will

undoubtedly create a wide field of cooperation for the non-legitimate

authorities of Azerbaijan and Armenia, though our authorities may

find themselves in a comparatively favourable state if by January

they manage to reopen A1+ and Noyan Tapan.

 

P.S. One of those who believe that normal presidential elections

will be conducted in Azerbaijan, is the head of the CIS Monitoring

Mission Yuriy Yarov. Yesterday, this poor, funny man declared in Baku:

"Judging from everything, it may be supposed that the presidential

elections will be free, fair and transparent."

[Armen]

ISA GAMBAR CLAIMS THAT HE WON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN AZERBAIJAN

 

BAKU, OCTOBER 16. ARMINFO-TURAN. "The counting of votes by our observers has shown that I have polled 60% of the votes. I have won today's presidential election," the leader of the Musavat party Isa Gambar said during his Wednesday meeting with journalists in the party's headquarters cordoned off by the police.

 

Gambar said that the Azeri authorities have done their best to "steal" the victory from him. "I am not going to put up with their falsifications. The people will defend its victory."-

[MJ]

Doesn't it sound as if these elections were held in Armenia?

 

Perhpas it doesn't even matter, since there seem as the differences between Azerbaidjan and Armenia have been erased? Armenia has finally becmoe equal to Azerbaidjan.

 

It is good also for the international observers - much work can be saved when drafting the report on Azerbaidjani elections.

[THOTH]

Doesn't it sound as if these elections were held in Armenia?

 

Perhpas it doesn't even matter, since there seem as the differences between Azerbaidjan and Armenia have been erased? Armenia has finally becmoe equal to Azerbaidjan.

 

It is good also for the international observers - much work can be saved when drafting the report on Azerbaidjani elections.

LOL - shame on Armenia...no? What has she come to at this point in time....initial expectations were so jigh...but (as an outsider) understanding more of the culture/legacy from Soviet times, how it has permeated many of the former territories/regeims...and to some degree seeing how (some) Armenains operate...I guess I shouldn't have been/be so surprised...

 

But yeah - reading the first post I was thinking whitewash - they couldn't have done this well (I fully expect/expected the Aliyev dynasty to continue...much as Mubarak is engineering in Egypt)...then the second post - from the Armenian perspective - initially really cracked me up...but on reflection makes me feel quite sad/dejected...

[Armen]

Rivals cry foul in Azerbaijani election

BY NICK PATON WALSH IN MOSCOW

 

The Guardian - United Kingdom;

Oct 16, 2003

 

 

Fears of violence marred Azerbaijan's presidential election yesterday, with

opposition activists accusing the government of rigging the vote.

 

The election came as the ailing president, Haydar Aliyev, 80, tried to

complete the first dynastic succession in the former Soviet Union by handing power

to his reformed playboy son, Ilham, the favourite among eight candidates to win

the poll.

 

Ilham, 41, was made prime minister in August after his father fell gravely

ill. Under the constitution, recently rewritten by the president, the prime

minister becomes acting president if the incumbent is incapacitated. His election

will complete the succession process.

 

On the voting yesterday, Haydar Aliyev said: "There is confidence that these

elections mark a step towards the democratisation of society. The country does

not want to return to chaos, anarchy and ignorance."

 

But there were predictions of violence from opposition leaders, who accused

the government of working to rig the vote. Ilham Aliyev's main challenger, the

Musavat leader Isa Gambar, said: "I can't ask the people to stand by as their

votes are stolen."

 

Ilgar Mamadov, vice-president of the centre-right Mili Istigal party, told

the Guardian: "People feel frustrated and may be violent if the police interfere

with their protests . . . The government will attempt to falsify the results,

in any case."

 

Since his election in 1993, Haydar Aliyev has imposed a repressive stability

on the oil-rich country, where heavy investment from companies such as BP,

ExxonMobil and Russia's Lukoil has been encouraged.

[Armen]

Turkistan Newsletter

14 October 2003

 

To: Mr. George Bush

President of the United States of America

 

To: Mr. Dennis Hastert

Chairman House of Representatives

 

To: Mr. Walter Schwimmer

Secretary General of Council of Europe

 

Dear Sirs

 

I appeal to you in the very historical moment for young Azerbaijani

statehood - on the eve of presidential elections on October 15. These

elections by the common view of many observers could be as a triumph of

democracy and as an event, which could throw us back to the totalitarian

past. I must state that the alarmed pre-election environment that was

characterized by one of representative of Council of Europe as an

environment on the threshold of Civil War has promoted me to appeal to you.

 

Present situation in the country looks like mysterious thriller: the

Dictator who ruled the country by the police forces disappeared from the

scene (for the past three months no one has seen him and heard his voice)

and his son and the Family occasionally announce about his "signed" decrees

and directives.

 

For the past ten years of Heydar Aliyev's rule the country has faced massive

personal and political rights abuses, but now the country headed by the

ruling family on his behalf has led the country to edge of dangerous

physical confrontation.

 

All stages of pre-election campaign are going through unbelievable

violations about which international Human Rights organizations report

periodically.

 

- Election law has been adopted by the authorities ignored the

recommendations of Council of Europe and electoral commissions are totally

controlled by members and supporters of the ruling regime.

 

- Some presidential opposition candidates under different strained

pretexts have not been registered.

 

- The registered opposition candidates have been facing intolerable

obstacles for meeting with constituencies.

 

- Persons empowered to act for presidential candidates, supporters and

families of opposition candidates are being subjected to beating, illegal

detainment and arrests.

 

- People are being forced like in Stalin period to participate at a

meeting with the son of the current president and vote for him with the

threat to fire them from their jobs.

 

- Pro-oppositional specialists are being fired from governmental

service and prevented their participation at private business.

 

- Electronic mass media totally controlled by the government refuses

to give air for oppositional candidates.

 

- Democratic press is being subjected to police and criminal charges.

 

- Businessmen under the threat of bankruptcy are being forced to

support the regime and rejection of support of opposition candidates.

 

- Courts totally dependent on the ruling regime are refusing to

consider complaints of violations of our civil rights.

 

This list can be extended and I am sure the violations will override the

list of violations of American colonists made by King George stated at US

Declaration of Independence. Yes, the situation here is similar, we like

supporters of United States' independence want to have real suffrage and

real right to demand accountability from our government.

 

In addition to all that violations the ruling family is not stopping to make

statements that democratic opposition is preparing for riots and are going

to head the country to chaos.

 

We understand your strategic difficulties with the countries similar to

Azerbaijan. Today your countries launched a war against terrorism, which we

support to the full. However, why the international democratic community

should not start the war against the genuine causes that generate terrorism?

Such causes are humiliation of human dignity, massive violations of human

rights, total corruption in the developing countries.

 

On behalf of supporters of fair and free elections, I apply to you for moral

and political support at this historical moment for our democracy. Silence

of international democratic community in the face of arbitrariness of police

regime can lead to dismal consequences: our country will continue to suffer

moral and social degradations; democratic ideals will be rejected and

frustration will grow. It is not so difficult to predict to what social

consequences it will lead.

 

I hope you will raise your voice in support of Azerbaijani democracy and

will not stay indifferent in the face of approaching falsifications at

presidential elections on October 15. Your active position would strengthen

empathy between our nations and would enhance the authority of international

community in the world.

 

Sincerely,

Isa Gambar

Chairman of Musavat Party

Presidential candidate from "Our Azerbaijan" bloc

[Armen]

Analysis: Coronation in Azerbaijan

By DERK KINNANE ROELOFSMA

 

United Press International

October 16, 2003 Thursday 6:41 AM Eastern Time

 

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- In medieval Europe, kings would sometimes

have their sons crowned during their lifetime. It was a way of ensuring

the political succession went to the right person.

 

A similar practice of ensuring the job stays in the family has come

into fashion in the region that stretches from North Africa to Central

Asia. Such a coronation, in the guise of a democratic election, took

place Wednesday in Azerbaijan with the elevation of Ilham Aliev,

son of incumbent Haidar Aliev, to the presidency of the country,

which is a strategically placed oil center on the western shore of

the Caspian Sea.

 

On Thursday, election officials said that with 91 percent of the

votes counted the younger Aliyev had won 79.5 percent of the votes.

His rival, Isa Gambar, got 12.06 percent.

 

The splintered opposition fielded seven candidates and the Ilham

Aliev appears to enjoy the genuine support of most Azerbaijanis

for want of anyone better organized. Not that this stopped Aliev's

machine from having police harass opposition demonstrators, telling

people they would lose their jobs if they didn't vote the right way,

distributing ballots already marked for Ilham and generally upsetting

the 600 election observers from the Organization for Security and

Cooperation in Europe.

 

The election results, with their promise of political continuity,

will please the West and especially the United States, given that

Azerbaijan is, as Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security adviser

to President Carter, put it, "the cork in the bottle containing the

riches of the Caspian Basin and Central Asia."

 

These riches include oil reserves estimated to be as great as those

in the North Sea or Iran. There is also the prospect of strategic

advantage to be gained by building new pipelines to carry the fuels

onto the world markets.

 

Ilham's father, 80-year old Haidar, collapsed live on television in

April and has been under treatment ever since for cardiac problems.

He is currently a patient at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

 

When Aliev the elder took over in 1993, Azerbaijan had just lost a war

with Armenia over the Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorno Artsax

that gained de facto independence. The former Soviet republic was on

the verge of civil war.

 

In the years that followed, Aliev brought stability and heavy

foreign investment in the oil industry, resulting in a surge in

economic growth. The new wealth has not, however, benefited the

ordinary citizens, who remain poor; as do the hundreds of thousands

of destitute refugees from Artsax.

 

Over the years, Ilham, 41, received an elite education in Moscow before

being given various important posts in Baku to prepare him for high

office. He was also sent abroad, including to Washington last August,

to acquire experience in conducting foreign relations.

 

About the last thing Haidar did before being flown to Cleveland was to

get Ilham named prime minister as well as a candidate in the Wednesday

election. Haidar at the time was also a candidate but was forced by

his illness to withdraw. The fly in the ointment is that Azerbaijan's

fragile stability may be undone by the widespread perception of Ilham

as something of a playboy, lazy about details and altogether not the

formidable politician his father has been.

 

Others preparing a hereditary transfer of power include Egypt's Hosni

Mubarak. Mubarak is grooming his son Gamal, known as Jimmy, to follow

him as pharaoh. When Syrian Baath leader Hafez Assad died in 2000, he

was succeeded by his son Bashar. Iraqi Baath leader Saddam Hussein'

dynastic plans were only thwarted by the death of both of his sons,

Qusay and Uday, during the war in Iraq.

 

In Central Asia, dynastic ambitions have also emerged. But in that

part of the world men are preferred as rulers to women and if a

woman is to have any hope of playing an important political role,

she needs a good man by her side.

 

This is a problem for Kazakhstan's Nursultan Nazarbayev and

Uzbekistan's Islam Karimov. Both want to keep the job in the family

but only have daughters and both sultans' little girls have made

unsatisfactory matches.

 

The entry of Nazarbayev's daughter, Dariga, into politics was delayed

because her husband, Rakhat Aliev (no relation to the Azeri Alievs),

built up a power base in a way unacceptable to his father-in-law.

Aliev is now far from his wife and Kazakhstan, serving as its

ambassador in Vienna.

 

Dariga looks set to run for parliament next year and, after acquiring

some experience there, could later be appointed senate president. She

would then be in line to succeed her father were he to resign, die

or be incapacitated.

 

Karimov, who is believed to want to keep the job in the family, has

also had trouble with a son-in-law. His daughter, Gulnora, married a

fellow Uzbek, Mansur Maqsudi, in 1991 but was divorced by him in 2001

in the United States where the couple had gone to live. A messy case

is now under way in New Jersey over legal costs and the custody of her

two sons that she has refused to relinquish despite a court order. For

now, at least, she doesn't seem to be going anywhere politically.

 

Just to the west of Uzbekistan is Turkmenistan, rich in natural gas and

under the rule of Saparmurat Niyazov who styles himself Turkmenbashi,

the head of the Turkmen. According to Avdy Kuliev, a former Turkmen

foreign minister, now an opposition leader in exile, Niyazov is

planning to have his son Murad succeed him, possibly in 2008.

 

On Aug. 6, Kuliev, 67, was severely beaten up near his home in the

outskirts of Moscow. Earlier in the year, Niyazov is reported to

have said, "Everybody is sick of Kuliev. It is time to send him to

another world."

 

Which makes Azerbaijan's Alievs look quite civilized.

[Armen]

I think we're going to hear more from Baku. They're just warming up.

 

According to some unconfirmed reports Romano Prodi has called Ilham a "legitimate dictator".

"Erkir" is carrying a report in Armenian that says OSCE mission leader Peter Eicher has been bitten in Baku. Erkir's report is only in Armenian. I wonder why they don't put it in English. No translators?

If reports on Eicher will be confirmed Azeris are going to have hard times. But it's kind of unbelievable.

Edited October 17, 2003 by ArmenSarg

[Harut]

i just saw a few minute long news from Baku demonstrations.

it was really horrific situation. police beating people, young, old, men, women, without mercy.

[Armen]

US shares OSCE assessment of Azerbaijan presidential elections

 

17.10.2003

 

WASHINGTON, October 17 (Itar-Tass) -- Azerbaijan's presidential elections went on Wednesday without failures, even though the electoral process in the former Soviet republic does not fully meet international standards as yet, US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said in a comment on Thursday.

 

He said the United Stated shares the positive assessment of the progress of the election by observers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

 

Ereli added, however, that American observers noted "problems with voter lists".

 

He said the State Department was concerned over the reports of fierce clashes that happened after the elections. He called on all parties to show maximum restraint.

 

Ereli stressed that the US calls on Azerbaijan's government to meet its obligations within the framework of the OSCE, in particular where they concern defence of its citizens and their rights.

 

The US government also calls on Azerbaijan's opposition parties to act within law.

[Armen]

State Department Daily Press Briefing

Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman

Washington, DC

October 16, 2003

 

QUESTION: Do you have anything to say on Azerbaijan elections?

 

MR. ERELI: Sure. The United States concurs with the preliminary assessment of the Organization of Security and Cooperation for Europe that notes that the voting in Azerbaijan was generally orderly, but the election process still fell short of international standards. U.S. observers noted, specifically, problems with voter lists, cases of coercion and other irregularities. We are also concerned by reports of violent clashes after the election, and we urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint.

 

As in the past, we call on Azerbaijan's Government to follow through on its OSCE commitments, and to fulfill its duties for the safety of its citizens and the safeguarding of their rights. We also call upon the opposition parties to act peacefully and within the law.

 

We urge all parties to take all steps to restore public order and avoid further violence.

[Armen]

http://www.yerkir.am/eng/index.php?

 

European Commission says OSCE observers' report "too soft"

 

17.10.2003 05:15

 

YEREVAN. (YERKIR). - The European Commission has criticized the OSCE observers' report on Azerbaijani presidential election results, Rosbalt.ru reported.

 

The official statement released on October 16, says the definition "did not meet the international standards" is too soft in regard with the real situation in Azerbaijan, where, according to the European Commission, the election results were entirely falsified by the government agencies.

[Armen]

http://www.reuters.com/home.jhtml

 

Pools of Blood Taint Azerbaijan Election, Many Hurt

Thu October 16, 2003 10:58 AM ET

By Elizabeth Piper

BAKU (Reuters) - A young boy lies limp in the hands of a black-clad special forces officer, his hand dangling as the masked man struggles to remove his coat.

 

Mouth-to-mouth is given. Elite soldiers raise their metal shields to close off the scene.

 

The boy, no older than five or six, was among thousands of Azeris who took to the streets on Thursday to protest against the victory of Ilham Aliyev, son of veteran leader Haydar, as president in an election the opposition said was stolen.

 

An hour later, he ended up like at least five other people, lying in pools of blood, immobile. Their fate was unknown although at two people were later reported killed.

 

Some were dragged by police out of swarming crowds of officers, guard dogs and the protesters they were pursuing. Others were carried by comrades to shops to try to enlist help.

 

Some protesters smashed cars and bus windows on the way to the demonstration in Freedom Square outside government headquarters on the Caspian seafront.

 

They wielded sticks, hurled broken pavement slabs at security forces and skidded a truck into a crowd of riot police and there were reports of several police injuries, maybe deaths. No numbers could be confirmed.

 

MOST PROTESTERS PEACEFUL

 

But most of the protesters, who gathered to denounce the election outcome which secured the first dynastic succession in the former Soviet world, were peaceful.

 

Their protest, called by supporters of Ilham Aliyev's rival Isa Gambar, was shortlived. About 40 minutes after they gathered in the square, the police moved in.

 

Officers stormed the crowd from both sides, firing tear gas and blanks, their rubber truncheons flailing. They said they were provoked and the demonstration was unauthorized.

 

Most demonstrators fled. Those unable to outrun helmeted police were pursued by groups of five, sustaining blows and curses against their mothers and sisters. Police dogs tore at protesters' clothes.

 

"They beat me like a dog. This is no longer my country," Balakhuseyn Huseynov murmured, trying to speak through bloodied lips as pharmacy assistants injected a sedative into his arm.

 

His cheek was split, exposing bone. His eye was closed under a red swelling, blood encrusted around his mouth, eyes, ears and matted hair.

 

He shivered while the assistants tried to force whisky into his mouth. Their chemist shop was now a refuge, and they refused to give him up to officers banging on the door.

 

"They want to destroy this land. Help me leave please, please," the middle-aged Huseynov pleaded, bursting into tears as he spat on his identity card.

 

Cheering their victory over the protesters, soldiers banged their truncheons against their shields. Many combed nearby streets and pushed their way into shops to round up demonstrators who had eluded them.

 

"We tried to explain to them that the protest was illegal," said Yashar Aliyev, deputy head of the Baku police force. "Some understood us. But the others just did not want to understand."

[Armen]

16.10.2003

PanARMENIAN.Net

 

ARMENIANS ARE NOT AGAINST ILHAM ALIYEV

 

In Yerevan and Stepanakert they hope that with Ilham Aliyev the peaceful negotiations will continue.

 

 

The new President of Azerbaijan is already known. The figures announced by the electoral commission testify the victory of Ilham Aliyev. This, of course, does not mean that Ilham Aliyev has gained the majority of votes. The most important is that seemingly both the Western world and Russia, and the regional countries are interested in maintaining the power in the hands of the governing clan. It should be added that in Yerevan and Stepanakert they are also interested in peaceful implementation of the neo-monarchic scenario in Azerbaijan.

 

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Judging from some statements of representatives of Armenian political authorities, official Yerevan would prefer to deal with Ilham Aliyev. Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan said recently that the election of Aliyev-younger would allow continuing the negotiations on Artsax. "I am sure that Ilham Aliyev is aware of the process of negotiations. We assume that his possibilities to continue the process are higher than those of the other candidates".

 

Chairman of the National Assembly, Arthur Baghdasaraian shares this opinion. In an interview with the "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" ("Independent Newspaper") he said Ilham Aliyev was a soberly thinking political figure. "I am sure he is familiar with the details of the political negotiations around the Artsax issue," Parliament speaker said. "I do not think Ilham Aliyev is a representative of the "party of war," Defence minister Serzh Sarkisian says. "When leaders of great powers congratulate him with the election, this is already something."

 

Even the representatives of Armenian opposition are sure that the official Yerevan should be interested in seeing Ilham Aliyev as President of Azerbaijan. Former presidency candidate, political scientist Aram Karapetyan commenting the rumours that the "official Yerevan in a veiled form supports Ilham Aliyev" said: "Being a representative of opposition, I approve this decision".

 

The authorities of Nagorno Artsax speak less about Aliyev. Only the head of the information-analytical department of the NKR Foreign Ministry Leonid Martirosyan said once that "Ilham Aliyev may play a positive role in finding bilaterally admissible ways of conflict's settlement". We shall note that judging from the results of social studies, the NKR population is not against Ilham Aliyev. Judging from the results of the study carried out by the "Democratic reforms and human rights" organization, 63 percent of Artsax population is sure that if Ilham Aliyev becomes President, the armistice will be maintained. Let's hope they were not mistaken...

[Armen]

In Depth Article

 

Azerbaijan election ends in violence 17.10.2003

 

Mass protest and street clashes have cast a shadow over Ilham Aliev's election.

 

By Shahin Rzayev in Baku

The presidency of Ilham Aliev has got off to an ominous start this week with violent clashes on the streets of Baku, as the opposition disputed his declaration of victory. International observers condemned the October 16 violence, which left two people dead and 300 wounded, but were also critical of the authorities, calling the election undemocratic - stopping short, though, of challenging the result, which gave Ilham Aliev, son of former president Heidar Aliev, 80 per cent of the vote. His main challenger Isa Gambar was awarded 12 per cent of the vote. Supporters of Gambar's Musavat party marched on Baku's Freedom Square to challenge the electoral result, claiming their candidate had won the election. The opposition protesters beat policemen and then were brutally attacked by police trying to clear the square. The violence then spread throughout the city centre with casualties on both sides.

 

More casualties expected

 

So far, only one of the victims has been identified, Gamidaga Zahidov, a 51-year-old man from the town of Saatli, who died when he was beaten on the head in Freedom Square. The trouble started on October 15, after the polls had closed. When Musavat supporters saw the first results announced on television, around 200 of them staged a demonstration outside their party headquarters. Their rally was broken up shortly after midnight. The next day, they re-assembled on Freedom Square in the early afternoon and almost five hours of violence ensued. More than 20 journalists caught in the melee were injured. It seems likely the number of casualties will grow. A doctor at the Nagiev Hospital said they had received more than 50 people and no one had so far died. However, she said there were 12 people in intensive care of whom three, including a five-year-old child, were in a critical condition. The doctor said the child, who was with her mother near the clashes and had got caught up in them, had "little chance of surviving." Baku police chief Magerram Aliev told reporters 171 people had been detained, including two of Gambar's bodyguards, and that 30 police officers had been hurt. Ali Ahmedov, executive secretary of the governing party Yeni Azerbaijan, confirmed to IWPR that two people had died but said this was a result of stones thrown by opposition supporters and blamed Musavat for the trouble. "Musavat is a centre of destabilisation and the functioning of this centre is very dangerous for Azerbaijan," he said. "The law enforcement agencies must be extremely decisive about this."

 

Pressure to vote for Ilham

 

These elections have been unlike any others in Azerbaijan. First of all, the electoral campaign was highly unusual as President Heidar Aliev, the political colossus of the country, was absent. He was in hospital in the United States throughout and only withdrew from the contest in favour of his son Ilham 12 days before polling day. As a result of this confusion in the ruling elite, Gambar, the leading opposition candidate, was able to make a very powerful challenge. Secondly, elections in Azerbaijan have never ended in violence, as this one did. And thirdly, everyone noted an unusually high level of interest from voters. The official turnout figures were put at 71 per cent. As expected, there were many reports of vote-rigging and falsification. At the polling station in School 101 in Sukharan, on the edge of Baku, a middle-aged woman with a piercing voice shouted out, "We are all putting our cross against the first name! And anyone who likes to blab to their neighbours is free to go and say that I told you that!" The first name on the ballot form was that of Ilham. It transpired that this woman, called Tamilla, comes from the nearby Oil Machine-Building Factory, which supports most of the district, including the school. So it was not surprising that everyone was afraid of her. In Azerbaijan's second city Ganje, IWPR heard that many government employees were put under intense pressure to vote for Ilham. Nushaba Mamedova, head of the woman's rights organisation Tomris, said she had personally witnessed schoolteachers being given 20 ballot forms, with Aliev's name already crossed on them. "What's more, the famous Ganje singer Shahnaz Ashimova hired a bus to take one group of Ilham supporters around different polling stations," Mamedova said. "Every time they were given new ballot papers and they all voted several times." The pro-government press and some international observers also said they had witnessed acts of agitation and intimidation by the opposition on polling day.

 

Exit polls fail to clarify results

 

For the first time, exit polls were conducted in Azerbaijan. However, they did not throw any light on the actual result. A poll conducted by the ADAM social research centre and the opposition Turan news agency reported that by early evening on election day, 46.2 per cent of electors had voted for Gambar and 24.1 per cent for Ilham. However, another sociological centre, Prognoz, reported that Ilham had 62.78 per cent support and Gambar 14.65 per cent. Well-known liberal commentator Zardusht Alizade, one of the organisers of the group Everyone for Fair Elections, which is supported by the Open Society Institute, said he believed that Ilham had won the election in the first round, but by much less than was officially announced. "In my judgement Ilham Aliev got more than 50 per cent of the vote, Isa Gambar around 40 per cent and the rest no more than 10 per cent," said Alizade. "However, that does not mean that Ilham Aliev won these elections honestly and fairly. "The whole election campaign was accompanied by massive abuses, all the television channels were agitating for just one candidate and insulting the opposition, government employees were threatened that they would lose their jobs if they did not vote for Ilham. So the authorities used their so-called 'administrative resources' to the maximum, as happens in all elections in the territory of the CIS."

 

OSCE expresses disappointment

 

International observers expressed great disappointment in the elections, but did not dispute the validity of the result. "This election has been a missed opportunity for a genuinely democratic election process," said Peter Eicher head of the observing team for ODIHR, the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. "We were particularly troubled by the level of intimidation and unequal conditions for candidates during the campaign." Guillermo Martines Casan, head of a delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, tried to sound a more positive note, saying he hoped that the election would "mark the beginning of a new era in Azerbaijan". He appealed to all political forces "to adhere to legality and democratic standards when defending their legitimate, different political ideas". Azerbaijan's new president stayed out of sight as the trouble developed on October 16, receiving congratulations from foreign heads of state and chairing a session of Azerbaijan's security council. At the time this report was published on October 17, the streets of central Baku were quiet.

 

Shahin Rzayev is IWPR's Azerbaijan coordinator.

 

This article originally appeared in Caucasus Reporting Service, produced by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting.

[Armen]

Russian position - free / fair

US position - partially free / fair

EU position - non free / non fair

 

There is a clear rift between EU and US positions. OSCE mission leader Peter Aicher (US) is being criticised by his colleagues (mostly EU) in OSCE mission for political manipulations.

 

As a result of Armenian and Azerbaijani elections Russia regained influence in South Caucasus at the expence of local democracy.

[Armen]

http://www.osce.org/odihr/documents/report...ay2003_eps.php3

 

Armenia President elections 2003 OSCE

 

Statement Of Preliminary Findings And Conclusions

 

PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS

 

While the 25 May parliamentary elections marked improvement over the past presidential election in the campaign and media coverage, they fell short of international standards for democratic elections in a number of key respects, including falsification of vote counts, intimidation of observers and proxies and violation of secrecy of the ballot during military voting.

The improvements mirrored a similar development during the previous succession of presidential and parliamentary elections in 1998 and 1999, which also failed to comply with international standards. More determination is required from the leadership of the country for future elections to meet international standards.

Regrettably, a fatal shooting marred a relatively calm election day. The incident took place in the presence of international observers.

Positive aspects of the election included:

• A diverse choice was offered in the proportional contest;

• Parties, blocs and candidates, by and large, enjoyed equal campaign opportunities;

• Public TV generally provided contestants with balanced coverage under equal conditions;

• Statements by state officials calling for tolerance and condemning electoral violations contributed to an active and essentially peaceful campaign;

• Voter registers were improved in a number of communities;

• For the first time the Central Election Commission (CEC) instructed Territorial Election Commissions (TECs) to publish, by polling station, the preliminary results of both the proportional and majoritarian contests as required by the law;

• The Central Election Commission (CEC) also announced preliminary results broken down by polling station, fulfilling an important IEOM recommendation;

• Government officials and political party leaders demonstrated a constructive attitude towards the IEOM; and

• Domestic observers and proxies were present in large numbers in polling stations.

However, shortcomings in a number of key areas remained, including:

• Disillusionment and lack of confidence in the electoral process reflected in a significant drop in turnout;

• Non-existent competition in a number of constituencies;

• Persisting non-uniformity and lack of appropriate communication between institutions in the compilation of voter lists;

• Failure to ensure uniform and consistent application of electoral legislation;

• Selective enforcement of candidate registration procedures;

• Late and imprecise decision making by the CEC;

• Arbitrary appointment of members of Precinct Election Commissions (PECs);

• Isolated incidents of violence resulting from tension in some constituencies;

• Giving and promising of goods and services to voters by some parties and candidates;

• Serious under representation of women as candidates and in campaign structures;

• Compromised secrecy of the vote, in particular of conscripts;

• Failure to provide access for disabled voters in over half of polling stations observed; and

• Withdrawal of a prominent candidate on election day alleging intimidation.

The Electoral Code generally provided a basis for the conduct of democratic elections. However, implementation of the formula for the composition of election commissions did not meet expectations for proper administration of the elections. It was open to abuse and resulted in an overall lack of confidence. This was aggravated by undue restrictions on the activities of party and candidate proxies in polling stations.

On election day, voting was assessed positively by observers in most polling stations. However problems, including intimidation, the presence of unauthorised persons and compromised secrecy of voting by the military continued to be observed. Significant problems connected with the vote count included falsification of protocols, ballot box stuffing, stealing of ballots and intimidation of international observers.

While detailed recommendations will be included in the final report, the following key issues should be addressed:

• Accountability for persons committing electoral violations;

• Composition and powers of election commissions;

• Undue restrictions on party and candidate representatives in polling stations;

• Ambiguous and ineffective procedures for complaints and appeals;

• Lack of legal requirement that both preliminary and final results be published by polling station at the CEC level.

Edited October 19, 2003 by ArmenSarg

[Armen]

http://groong.usc.edu/world/az/msg02197.html

 

Azerbaijan President Elections 2003

 

Statement Of Preliminary Findings And Conclusions

 

PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS

 

The voting in 15 October 2003 presidential election in the Republic of Azerbaijan was generally well administered in most polling stations, but the overall election process still fell short of international standards in several respects. The international observers noted a number of irregularities in the counting and tabulation.

 

Although many elements of this election were of serious concern, there were some positive aspects of the process that deserve to be mentioned:

 

* The field of eight candidates provided for a genuine choice for the

voters;

 

* There was an active campaign, with public participation, in which

opposition candidates were able to criticize the authorities;

 

* A new Election Code included additional safeguards against fraud and

generally provides a legal basis upon which democratic elections might be

held;

 

* Many technical preparations for the election were completed in a

satisfactory manner;

 

* The Central Election Commission published detailed precinct results,

adding an important element of transparency to the election.

 

However, the election fell short of a number of international standards,

including:

 

* Numerous instances of violence and excessive use of force by police,

including on election night;

 

* A pattern of intimidation against opposition supporters, journalists and

others, which overshadowed the political atmosphere;

 

* The conditions for campaigning by governing party candidates and

opposition candidates were manifestly unequal;

 

* Prohibitive restrictions on political rallies and meetings limited the

ability of opposition candidates to convey their messages effectively to the

public;

 

* State television and independent media, apart from free airtime, was

severely out of balance;

 

* The Central Election Commission (CEC), did not meet a number of legal

requirements;

 

* The complaints and appeals processes did not enjoy public confidence, and

did not provide an effective mechanism to guarantee effective remedies.

Edited October 19, 2003 by ArmenSarg

[MJ]

There is a clear rift between EU and US positions. OSCE mission leader Peter Aicher (US) is being criticised by his colleagues (mostly EU) in OSCE mission for political manipulations.

I don't think there is any rift here.