Registration of Candidates

[32] The registration period ran from July 24 to September 7. For further information on the election timetable and responsible authorities, see the Central Election Commission official website, [online] http://www.cec.gov.az/en/4millimajlis2005/calendar/calendar.htm  (retrieved October 18, 2005). In previous elections, election commissions put barriers in the way of registration for opposition members who wanted to become candidates and arbitrarily refused to register them.

[33] OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission,  Republic of Azerabaijan – Parliamentary Elections 2005, Interim Report No.1 (5-23 September 2005). The OSCE raised concerns about the refusal to register Mr. Zalmanovich, the head of the Baku European Jewish Center, on the grounds that he is a professional clergyman, despite the fact that he is not a rabbi. Article 14.3 of the Election Code prohibits clergymen engaged in professional religious activity from being candidates. The annulment of Hajiaga Nuri’s registration also raised concerns. Initially the decision to annul the registration was based on his being a professional clergyman, but on appeal, which Nuri lost, the Central Election Commission argued that it was because he was the head of an unregistered party. However, under the law an election bloc can nominate candidates that are not members of political parties that are included in the bloc. Human Rights Watch interview with Hajiaga Nuri, Baku, September 27, 2005.