03/09/24 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 3 September, the European External Action Service condemned the conduct of the early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan on 1 September. “According to the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission, the election took place within a restrictive political and legal environment that did not enable genuine pluralism and resulted in a contest devoid of competition”, states a press release. Despite an orderly and generally effective electoral process, “serious irregularities and omissions” of important safeguards were noted, “particularly in the vote count, raising questions about the integrity of the process”, the press release continues. The vote also took place against a backdrop of ongoing repression of dissenting voices, the spokesman pointed out. The EU has called on the Azerbaijani authorities to take into account and implement the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR and has expressed its readiness to help. (CG)