On July 31, 2024 Mr. Mazahir Panahov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) met with Mr. Ditmir Bushati, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission in regard with the upcoming early elections to the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Having greeted the Head and members of the observation mission, CEC Chairman expressed his gratitude of the meeting. Emphasizing an important role of the observation mission in preparing and conducting the elections in an environment of wide openness and transparency, Mr. M. Panahov highly appreciated the great interest of international observers in the elections held in Azerbaijan. He also drew attention that the supreme electoral body he leads is open to cooperation with international organizations, and that the implementation of the processes in the CEC and lower election commissions are transparent for observers and all stakeholders.

Expressing his gratitude for friendly welcome and meeting, Mr. D. Bushati said that they will cooperate closely with CEC during their election observation mission in Azerbaijan. At the same time, the head of the observation mission requested the CEC Chairman to provide them with the information on the progress of the preparations for the elections to the Milli Majlis.

Mr. M. Panahov gave detailed information about the large-scale projects implemented and planned for election participants of different status, including voters and members of lower election commissions within the Commission's awareness program, the ongoing process of clarifying voter lists, the nomination and registration of candidates, and the opportunities created in relation to the pre-election campaign. The Chairman informed that after the 2024 presidential elections of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the elections to the Milli Majlis will be held for the first time in all sovereign territories of Azerbaijan. After thirty years of occupation, the number of permanent polling stations in the liberated regions has been increased to 34 in order to ensure the constitutional rights of our citizens who have the right to vote.

Answering the guests' questions, CEC Chairman, as always, invited the EOM members to directly monitor the activities of the Commission and the processes being carried out at any time they wanted, and emphasizing that every opportunity have been created for this.

Within the frame of the meeting, other issues of mutual interest regarding with the elections to the Milli Majlis were also discussed.