Azerbaijani elections must meet international standards

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 26th Oct 2005

In a European Parliament debate this evening, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP will speak for the European Liberal Democrat Group (ALDE) on a resolution expressing the European Parliament's deep concern over recent violations of democratic principles in Azerbaijan in the run-up to parliamentary elections on 6th November.

Sarah Ludford will call for the elections, which will test the maturity of Azerbaijani democracy, to be free and fair. The ALDE group deplores the recent violence that was used on opposition rallies and calls for the immediate release of people still detained.

Sarah Ludford has publicly condemned the Azerbaijani authorities' refusal to allow opposition leader Rasul Guliyev to re-enter Azerbaijan on 17th October. She said:

"It is vital that the EU send a strong signal to the regime of President Aliyev that if he tries to steal these elections, there will be serious consequences for our relations with Azerbaijan. The United States should do the same."

"The Azeri people are being robbed of their future already, as oil wealth and corruption enrich a few while the rest stay impoverished. They must be given their democratic voice, to choose a government that offers a decent way forward free of police brutality, censorship and cronyism."

Note to Editors

Baroness Sarah Ludford has been campaigning for Mr Guliev's safe return to Azerbaijan, and for free and fair elections on November 6th. For further information please go to:

http://www.sarahludfordmep.org.uk/news/554.html

http://www.sarahludfordmep.org.uk/news/552.html

http://www.sarahludfordmep.org.uk/news/550.html