stations to intervene or direct the process . More than a quarter of the observers reported significant procedural errors or omissions 53 .
Conclusion
In summarizing the impact of the amendments to the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan on the opposition forces , it can be concluded that the opposition is deprived of competing with the government on equal terms . First , taking into account the fact that the opposition in Azerbaijan was deprived of membership in the Central Electoral Commission , which in its turn created unequal and uncontrollable conditions of the election process for the opposition . Moreover , the CEC , being the most important structure for both the organization and conduction of elections , was in fact governed by independent candidates nominated by the government , which made the CEC ’ s impartiality highly unlikely . Citing the official start of the campaign period , the announcement of the elections and the negative decisions to reduce the number of constituencies , it should be noted that these had a significant impact on the opposition . Those negative consequences were reflected in the organization and conduct of the elections . Sometimes the elections were held ahead of schedule 5455 , due to which the latter did not have time to properly prepare for the elections . ODIHR , OSCE , and the VC are among the authoritative international organizations which in their reports , referred to the shortcomings of the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan , the weakening of the opposition and reforms . Of course , there have been positive changes in the amendments to the Electoral Code , in particular 11-1 ( prevention of illegal interference in the conduction of elections ( referendum )), 47.5-1 ( the procedure for excluding citizens from the voter list ) and other articles , but they are counterbalanced by changes in their volume and nature , and they contradict the logic of positive change .
Thus , the government of the Republic of Azerbaijan still has a lot of work to do to improve the Electoral Code . It is difficult to say to what extent the Aliyev regime is ready or willing to hold free , fair and equal elections . However , one thing is obvious : the opposition in Azerbaijan is deprived of the principles of equality , freedom and justice .
53
International election observation , “ Statement of preliminary findings and conclusions ”, November 7 , 2010 , 12 , https :// www . osce . org / files / f / documents / 4 / 9 / 73524 . pdf
54
İlham Əliyev , “ Növbədənkənar Azərbaycan Respublikası Prezidenti seçkilərinin elan edilməsi haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikası Prezidentinin Sərəncamı Act , February 05 , 2018 ”, in Public Website of the President of Azerbaijan ( Azərbaycan : Azərbaycan Prezidentinin Rəsmi internet səhifəsi ), https :// president . az / articles / 26943
55
Azərbaycan Respublikası Mərkəzi Seçki Komissiyasının , “ Səsvermənin ümumi yekunlarına dair Mərkəzi seçki komissiyasının Protokolu ”, Azərbaycan , 2011
47