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Conclusion

By failing to implement key recommendations of the OSCE and Council of Europe that are aimed at safeguarding the integrity of elections, the government has shown an apparent lack of political will to hold elections in accordance with its international commitments. The combination of restrictions on campaigning, an overwhelming pro-government media bias, arrests, beatings, and other forms of intimidation during the election campaign period precludes the possibility of conducting free and fair parliamentary elections on November 6. The environment of intimidation, particularly against the opposition Azadliq bloc, and government campaigning for ruling YAP candidates, sends a strong message to voters about whom they should support.

The government is to be commended for ensuring the registration of candidates without bias in favor or against any political party or bloc, a significant improvement over previous elections. However, this alone is not enough to ensure progress towards free and fair elections. The international community should judge the election process as a whole, and should promptly and unequivocally condemn serious breaches of international standards. International interlocutors should ensure that there are consequences for the government of Azerbaijan  if it again flouts its international commitments to hold free and fair elections. Another round of seriously flawed elections should not lead to “business as usual.”