OSCE long-term observers to arrive in Azerbaijan ahead of parliamentary elections

Long-term observers from the OSCE will arrive in Azerbaijan at the end of July to monitor the extraordinary parliamentary elections scheduled for September 1.

Central Election Commission Chairman Mazahir Panahov announced this development to journalists, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

In preparation for the elections, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has also disclosed the list of international organizations invited to observe the polls. Seven key entities have been extended invitations: the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the GUAM Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development, the Youth Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and the Organisation of Turkic States.

Additionally, the Azerbaijani parliament has invited 13 other international organizations to oversee the elections. These include the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS, the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking Countries (TURKPA), and several others from diverse global parliamentary bodies.

Following President Ilham Aliyev’s order to dissolve the sixth convocation parliament, the snap parliamentary elections will be held on September 1, 2024. To date, the Central Election Commission has registered 480 local observers, including 344 independent observers, 10 from non-governmental organizations, and 126 with special permissions.