Azerbaijani CEC cancels election outcomes in four constituencies

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan has considered complaints about violations during the February 9 parliamentary elections and cancelled the outcomes thereof in four constituencies. The complaints concerning 13 other constituencies were sent to the respective commissions at the constituency level. Activists insist that falsifications were made everywhere.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Azerbaijan CEC announced the victory of the ruling "Eni Azerbaijan" Party at the elections. In its turn, the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) of Azerbaijan has stated that the elections passed in an atmosphere of "mass falsifications and flagrant lawlessness."

"Everything will depend on public resistance and international pressure. The stronger they are, the greater the number of constituencies will cancel the outcomes," said Akik Gurbanov, the head of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives.

Anar Mamedli, the head of the Centre for Election Monitoring and Democracy Training (CEMDT), believes that elections should be cancelled throughout the country.

"It is necessary to reform the electoral legislation, ensure the fundamental freedoms, release political prisoners and hold new and free elections," he has stated.

Arastun Orudjlu, the head of the East-West Research Centre, believes that cancellation of elections outcomes in four constituencies is a tactical trick of the authorities in order to "bring down the growing wave of protests caused by falsifications."