The OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) election observation mission presented an interim report on the early presidential elections to be held in Azerbaijan on February 7. The document criticizes a number of political and legal aspects.

The report said all candidates had openly supported the president in the recent past. None of the main non-parliamentary opposition parties are participating in the elections, and one of them is boycotting them.

The authors of the document note that the Constitution of Azerbaijan guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the media, but over the past three months there have been numerous arrests of journalists. Such cases, as well as the restrictive nature of the new press law, the ban on foreign funding of media and the blocking of a number of media sites within the country, are cause for concern.

Finally, the composition of election commissions is fully controlled by the authorities and gives the impression of being professional and well-resourced institutions, the report says.