Central Election Commission respond to the on-going violations
In an interview with Turan News Agency, the director of media relations at the Central Election Commission, Shahin Asadli said, the commission will investigate each report and case on the violation and will make decisions accordingly.
Most common violations reported so far
Akif Gurbanov, the head of the Azerbaijan Democratic Initiative said in an interview with Azadliq Radio that one of the most common violations so far concerns independent observers who have been prevented from entering the precincts. "They are prevented from asking questions, speaking and are told to sit in one place and not move [...] The pressure is harsher and en masse compared to previous elections in Azerbaijan", said Gurbanov.
In addition to observers, journalists too have been facing difficulties in this election. Especially when filming or taking pictures.
There have also been reports of non-transparent ballot boxes reportedly seen at a number of precincts; or ballot boxes with very large openings allowing ballot stuffing; people going into voting booths in pairs; pre-cut ballots; and carousel voting.
Anar Mammadli from the Center for Election Observation and Democratisation says many of these violations are traditional to elections in Azerbaijan. Adding that heads of precincts and committees are unprepared and know very little about the electoral code. "They have no knowledge of the procedures and as a result mistreat observers, and representatives of candidates", explained Mammadli in an interview with Azadliq Radio.
An election advisor physically assaulted
Jale Bayramova, a member with consultative voting rights observing the election process at the Lankaran-Astara constituency number 76 told Azadliq Radio she was attacked by an unknown woman at the precinct. "I was filming, then, from nowhere, a woman came towards, grabbing my hair and scratching my face."
Commenting on the incident, the member of the constituency election committee told Turan News Agency, Bayramov took a picture of the voter without her permission and that's what caused the scuffle.