Azerbaijani Central Election Commission issued statement concerning election in Nagorno Karabakh

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The Azerbaijani Central Election Commission has released a statement concerning the presidential election in Nagorno Karabakh. The document states that “in violation of basic human rights and freedoms of the Azerbaijani citizens and establishing an artificial institution in our territory called ‘the Nagorno Karabakh Republic’, Armenia has repeatedly tried to create semblance of elections there.”

According to the statement, “the occupation forces again intended to carry out ‘presidential election’ in Nagorno Karabakh, which is inalienable part of Azerbaijan. Such action contradicts fully norms of the international law, Azerbaijan’s constitution and law. In accordance with the country’s constitution article 6, no social group or organization, no person can assume the duty to exert power. In accordance with the constitution and the election code, elections and referenda must be organized and conducted exclusively by the Azerbaijani Central Election Commission (CEC). The CEC welcomes statements and the position taken by international institutions, including the Council of Europe, OSCE and the Minsk Group, and certain countries that they do not recognize the so-called election. The CEC announces that ‘observers’ planning to monitor the ‘election’ in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan must refrain from neglecting international norms. Such their actions will be assessed as a gross violation of the country’s sovereignty. Being sure that the international community sticks to the similar position, the CEC finds illegitimate and does not recognize such ‘elections’ aimed against sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Azerbaijani state.”