The OSCE office in Baku, in cooperation with the Azeri authorities, decided to imitate a democratic election campaign in the country. President Ilham Aliev, who robbed the Opposition of any chance to influence the public opinion, has organized “training seminars” for officials to explain to them the unacceptability of interfering in the election process.

On September 20, an information session was opened in Baku to discuss the unacceptability of interference in the election process. The session was organized by the OSCE office in Baku. Similar events are planned in the other regions of Azerbaijan this week.

The organizers assigned the key – and the most cynical – role to Ali Gasanov, the head of a department, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration. The high-raking official, who is directly responsible for media censorship and for local officials’ work, was explaining to them that “the role of local government bodies and police is to ensure a calm election process.” Of course, no comments were made on what the Azerbaijan authorities mean by “a calm process” – ensuring “a decisive victory” of the ruling party, Yeni Azerbaijan. Of course, TV and radio censorship, as well as administrative levers, is the main guarantee of this victory.  

As regard international institutions particularly the OSCE office in Baku, playing into the Aliev authoritarian clan’s hands must have become a “good tradition” for them.

The parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan are scheduled for November 7.