CIS observation mission familiarizing with preparations for presidential elections in Azerbaijani regions

According to mission member and adviser of the press service of the CIS executive committee Maris Qutsalo, currently the mission is in Lenkoran region (country's south), reports Novosti - Azerbaijan.

"Before that, the mission members visited the constituencies in Hajiqabul and Astara. They familiarized with the technical provision of the constituencies and met with members of the election commissions, as well as representatives of executive powers and voters", said Qutsalo.

On September 18, the mission members will hold similar meetings in Masally in Jalilabad, after which they will return to the capital city.

According to Qutsalo, a statement for press will be prepared by results of the visit.

The activity of the CIS mission is coordinated by the office of the mission, which started operating in Baku on September 15. It is located at the Caspian hotel.

The delegation, lead by Nauriz Aydarov, deputy chairman of the Executive Committee and CIS executive secretary arrived in Azerbaijan on September 15 for the office opening.

The mission members in Baku held meetings with deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijani Ali Hasanov and chairman of the Central Election commission Mazahir Panakhov and discussed issues of the upcoming presidential elections.

Qutsalo noted that tonight Audarov will leave for Minsk. The office will be controlled by deputy head of the office Oleq Kuleba.

Over 250 CIS observers will watch the presidential elections in Azerbaijan. The mission will be formed from among the parliamentarians and diplomats, representatives of election commissions and executive powers of all levels openly and on the basis of proposals of the states.

The office of the mission will develop documents for accredidation of observers, monitor the stage of the election campaign, collect, process and analyze the materials on the election process, hold a legal expertise of the electoral law and monitoring of news at TV channels and in newspapers, hold meetings with the election campaign teams of the presidential candidates, heads of their election campaign teams, distribute observes among the regions and define the schedule of their work.

Divisions of the office are being held in Ganja, Lenkoran, Nakhchivan and Khachmaz.

The monitoring will be held by the principles of political neutralize, non-interference with the election process and with the internal affairs of the state.