He emphasized the equality of all voters, regardless of gender, residence, or ethnic background. “Women, men, people living abroad, and citizens of Azerbaijan have the same right to vote. All national minorities who are citizens of Azerbaijan have the same rights. None of them has an advantage,” Panahov stated.
Furthermore, Panahov revealed that around 80,000 observers have registered to monitor the elections. He detailed that over 6,300 polling stations across the country will each host up to 15 observers, underscoring the importance of their active participation and authority in overseeing the electoral process.
The CEC Chairman also noted the significant presence of international observers, nearing 800, including representatives from OSCE, CIS, various international organizations, and foreign embassies in Azerbaijan. Special mention was made of the CEC’s invitation to the heads and representatives of these commissions.
Panahov highlighted the completion of preparations for the presidential elections in Lachin, Shusha, and other liberated territories, expressing a keen interest in robust monitoring by international organizations. He specifically called for the long-term mission of the OSCE to focus on these liberated areas. “We consider it important that international organizations conduct good monitoring. We would especially like the long-term mission of the OSCE to monitor the process in the liberated territories,” he said, labeling these elections as ‘victory elections’ and emphasizing the need for proactive involvement from all parties.
