WORLD’S MEDIA UNANIMOUSLY REPORTS THAT PRE-ELECTION PERIOD IN AZERBAIJAN WAS FAR FROM HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY
19:40 08/10/2013 ” ANALYSIS
Azerbaijan holds its sixth presidential election since independence,
and no election in the 20-year has come close to meeting recognized
standards of fairness, competitiveness or transparency, the British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) writes.
According to the material though opposition has united around one
candidate Camil Hasanli, it will not affect the results of the
elections, and Ilham Aliyev will elected for the third term.
The BBC reports that Azerbaijani authorities erect barriers for two
strong opposition players Rustam Ibragimbekov and Ilgar Mammadov.
President Aliyev enjoyed a massive media advantage, while the
government lacked such an advantage. The opposition says that most
TV stations chose not to air the oppositionists under the pressure
of the government, the publication says.
The Washington Times notes, that though the U.S. is interested in
Azerbaijani elections, yet most Americans probably can’t spell the
country’s name on first chance or pinpoint its location on a map. The
author writes that Ilham Aliyev who is running for the third term
has inherited from his father an oil rich country which is stuck in
the corruption. The “Arab Spring” and the democratic movements in
the Middle East and North Africa, have apparently spooked Aliyev’s
government, the author stresses.
It is noted that the Azerbaijani authorities have arrested many young
activists with a large number of subscribers in social networks.
According to radio “Liberty”, everything indicates to the fact
that the current President of Azerbaijan will be elected to a third
five-year term. “A win will hand the dynastic heir a controversial
but constitutionally approved third term,” the site writes and adds
that Aliyev has unrestrained access to billions of dollars in energy
profits.
The site reminds that such international organizations like the United
Nations, the European Union, and the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have all expressed concern over “continued
pressure” on activists, journalists, and opposition politicians in the
run-up to the vote. “Members of the National Council say they believe
a free and fair vote would deliver a victory for their camp. However,
it’s said that is almost impossible to test in a country that routinely
receives low marks for elections,” the article reads.
Huffington Post writes that it was during the reign of President Ilham
Aliyev that the human rights crisis in the country deepened. Human
rights violations in this country are a problem long ago, the author
says. “Criticism of the President and leading government figures is
frequently punished – those who use their right to free speech find
that it can cost them their liberty, their physical safety, or their
privacy,” the article reads.
Thomas de Waal, the British journalist, a senior associate at the
Carnegie Endowment, specializing primarily in the South Caucasus
region commented on the situation. He believes that Ilham Aliyev will
undoubtedly be re-elected. One of the major challenges that Ilham
Aliyev is to face during his third five-year term, is the end of
the oil boom, the expert believes. As for the foreign policy issues,
in particular-Karabakh problem, the situation will remain the same –
neither war nor peace, de Waal says.
The journalist also stresses that “despite the ongoing elections,
Azerbaijan is not a democratic country.” “The opposition acts in hard
conditions. The dissent was strongly suppressed during the last year.
Several activists were arrested. The opposition parties could not
hold meetings,” de Waal adds.
Source: Panorama.am