US $3 million Azerbaijan Election Assistance

The Trend News Agency reports that the U.S. Government will allocate $3 million in assistance for the October presidential election in Azerbaijan. Even if the financial assistance might not achieve the objective of ensuring a democratic vote, it should at least make proceedings more transparent.

The funds have been allocated not for any political parties or organizations, but to improve the situation in the sphere of freedom of speech and the election situation in the country,” Anne E. Derse, US Ambassador in Azerbaijan stated in Baku on 1 May.

The American diplomat called upon all political parties in Azerbaijan to participate in the upcoming presidential elections. Derse stated that the approaching elections would be most democratic which has ever been held in the country. Derse hoped that the issue regarding amendments into the Election Code would be solved before the elections.

The Popular Front, Liberal and Citizen and Development parties, united in the Azadlig bloc, stated that they would boycott the elections should the election commission not be formed on a parity basis.