PACE decision initiates potential restrictions on Azerbaijan
Published: 23 January 2024 14:25
A reported decision at the level of the Presidential Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe indicates a fundamental move towards imposing restrictions on Azerbaijan.
The information, disclosed on January 22, states that the initiative originated from German deputies during the current plenary session.
The reported complaint revolves around the alleged exclusion of PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) observers from the upcoming February 7 presidential election in Azerbaijan. Additionally, there is dissatisfaction expressed over Azerbaijan’s refusal to permit PACE reporters access to the Lachin corridor.
The proposal was subjected to a vote and garnered majority approval. Emmanuelis Singeris, the meeting’s chairman, announced that the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will evaluate this proposal within 24 hours. Following the committee’s assessment, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will convene to discuss the issue and reach a final decision.
Scheduled for February 7, 2024, the presidential election in Azerbaijan will be monitored by the OSCE Observation Mission, CIS, and GUAM representatives. Azerbaijan gained full membership in the Council of Europe following a positive opinion at the PACE session on June 26-28, 2000.
The last extraordinary presidential election in Azerbaijan occurred on April 11, 2018, with Ilham Aliyev, who has been in office for 20 years, serving as President. All registered candidates are reportedly associated with the government.