Leo Platvoet holds press conference

As APA reports, he made concerning results of the visit to Azerbaijan. The statement reads that despite some improvements, pre-election period failed to meet a number of CE standards regarding democratic elections. Following the November elections, Azerbaijan failed to honor the obligations and commitments it took upon itself.

"The Assembly reserved itself the possibility to reconsider the credentials of the national delegation of Azerbaijan to PACE unless serious democratic progress would be made by Azerbaijani authorities."

In particular the resolution specifies that Azerbaijani authorities should have make full and transparent investigation of reported electoral fraud during the November elections, reform electoral code in line with the recommendations made by Venice Commission of CE and fully guarantee freedom of assembly and expression as well as pluralism in electoral media.

13 May elections are crucial for the Azerbaijani authorities to show that they have political will to commit themselves to democratic standards and to honor the commitments.

"The delegation regrets the low visibility of political campaign and apparent lack of the public in the upcoming elections. The authorities should therefore seize all opportunities offered with the partial re-run of these elections on May 13 to restore public confidence in elections," he said that the mission makes the following recommendations to the Azerbaijani authorities.

"They should request to the Venice Commission for cooperation on the reform of electoral law, should change the composition of election commissions. Mission thinks that these changes can be made 2 weeks before elections. as an example, we can show finger-inking applied 10 days before 6 November elections. Mission thinks that re-runs should be held more than 10 constituencies."