YEREVAN. – The reduction in the role of the OSCE Office in Baku is due to the presidential election to be held in Azerbaijan in October.  

Caucasus Institute Deputy Director, political analyst Sergey Minasyan told the abovementioned to Armenian News-NEWS.am. 

In his conviction, with this step official Baku simply wants to insure itself from the OSCE criticism in advance of the voting and to divert this organization’s attention during the pre- and post-election season in Azerbaijan.   

To note, Azerbaijan had petitioned to the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) this spring, with a proposal to review the status of the OSCE Office in Baku.