WSJ - Observers Criticize Azerbaijan Pollþ

By MARC CHAMPION
International observers on Monday sharply criticized elections in Azerbaijan in which the main opposition parties appear to have won no seats, giving a landslide victory to candidates loyal to the country's president, Ilham Aliyev.

A preliminary statement from some 405 Western election observers cited the arbitrary exclusion of opposition candidates and restriction of the opposition's ability to campaign, among other failures in a poll that lacked "a level playing field." Serious irregularities on election day, including ballot-stuffing, were found in 10% of polling stations observed, the statement said.

"Regrettably, our observation of the overall process shows that the conditions necessary for a meaningful democratic election were not established. We are particularly concerned about restrictions of fundamental freedoms, media bias, the dominance of public life by one party, and serious violations on election day," said Ambassador Audrey Glover, head of the observer mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's election unit, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

Central Elections Commission head Mazahir Panahov said at a televised press conference Monday that the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party appeared to have won 70 seats in the 125-seat legislature. Most of the remaining seats appeared to have been won by independents and smaller parties, many of them loyal to Mr. Aliyev. Turnout was 50.14%, according to preliminary data, Mr. Panahov said.

The two main opposition parties, Musavat and the Popular Front of Azerbaijan appeared to have won no seats, with 90% of votes counted. "We demand the results be annulled and new elections be conducted on the basis of a revised election legislation," said Musavat leader Isa Qambar, the Associated Press reported. He called the vote "illegitimate, undemocratic, untransparent and not free," the AP said.

"Today's parliamentary elections have been held in a democratic and transparent atmosphere, fully reflecting the will of the people," Yeni Azerbaijan reportedly said.

Azerbaijan has become an increasingly important supplier of oil and natural gas since becoming independent with the collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1991. The country has experienced rapid economic growth, hitting a rate of 34.5% in 2006, according to figures from the International Monetary Fund. But the economy has slowed sharply as a result of the global economic slowdown and lower oil prices. The IMF forecasts that Azerbaijan will grow by 4.3% this year and 1.8% next year.

The country's importance to securing routes to bring oil and gas from the Caspian Sea basin to Western markets has led opposition leaders in Azerbaijan to criticize Western governments for giving Mr. Aliyev a free pass when it comes to abuses of democratic process and human rights.

Azerbaijan has been ruled by Mr. Aliyev and before him his father, Heidar Aliyev, since 1969, with a six-year interlude in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2009, Azerbaijan abolished term limits for presidents, a move initiated by Mr. Aliyev's Yeni Azerbaijan party, which fueled claims from opponents that the Aliyev family has created a form of dynastic rule. Mr. Aliyev's supporters say he is popular because he delivers economic growth.

According to preliminary data, the parliamentary candidate to win by the widest margin in their constituency was Azerbaijan First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, with 94.5% of the vote.

S.M