Observers expect a predictable election Parliamentary elections are taking place in Azerbaijan, but opposition leaders say many of its candidates were prevented from registering.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe says officials have been “overly restrictive” in observing the electoral code.
The OSCE has sent more than 400 monitors to the elections.
But the Central Election Commission says it has taken extra measures to ensure the voting process if fair.
In November 2005 – soon after the colour revolutions swept new pro-western governments to power in Georgia and Ukraine – Azerbaijan’s opposition mounted a serious campaign to topple the country’s ruling elite and its party, the Yeni Azerbaijan Party.
They took to the streets to contest elections which had failed to meet international standards.
Now, after five years of high oil revenues and economic growth, international observers are expecting the most predictable election the country has ever seen.
OSCE monitors say they have received credible reports of voter intimidation; opposition candidates, they say, have in some cases been disqualified for no reason.
What is more there has been a lacklustre pre-election campaign on the streets and in the media – making for a polling day expected to be clouded by voter apathy.
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