Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has taken part in the meeting of the Council of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS) duringher working visit to St Petersburg on 12 July, Press and Public Relations Department of Azerbaijani Parliament told Paralel.Az.

Speaking during the debate about IPA CIS monitors’ involvement in the extraordinary presidential election in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova said relevant state entities had afforded every condition required for the process to be conducted to the highest standards. Full transparency of the electoral process was ensured so that the voters could their will freely and unhindered express. The international observers said so as well.

Having mentioned the involvement of as many as 790 international monitors representing 89 countries and 72 international organisations including 22 legislature and 2 interparliamentary organisations, the Speaker of Milli Majlis noted as the main point of the elections that our people had voted for further development of Azerbaijan, which had fully restored her territorial integrity and sovereignty. It was said also that Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev was re-elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan with more than 92 per cent of votes cast by the voters who took part in the elections.

In her speech, Sahiba Gafarova described monitoring of election processes as an important co-operation field within the IPA CIS. It contributes to the development of democracy and rule of law in the territories of the Member States through the exchange of experience in the organisation and conduct of electoral processes. Therefore, the activities and contribution of the International Institute for Monitoring the Development of Democracy, Parliamentarism and Observance of Electoral Rights of Citizens of the CIS PA (IGIM), including its Baku branch in the process of election observation deserve special attention.

Continuing, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova underscored the necessity to continue the co-operation in the field of monitoring electoral processes and informed that according to the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, extraordinary parliamentary elections will be held in our country on 1 September 2024.