European Parliament will not observe presidential elections in Russia and Azerbaijan
The European Parliament (EP) will not observe the upcoming presidential elections in Russia and Azerbaijan and consequently will neither comment on the process nor on the results that will be announced afterwards, the Parliament announced today in a press statement.
The statement, released by the co-chairs of the EP's Democracy support and election coordination group MEPs McAllister and McAvan, details that "the offer by official Russian organizations to cover the expenses of travel and accommodation of some international observers goes against the fundamental ethics of election observation,"
As regards Azerbaijan, the statement refers to the EP report on the relations between the EU and Azerbaijan to be adopted during its plenary sitting before the summer recess.
"Only this report will represent the official position of the European Parliament on the matter," the statement reads.