Approved by Decision #29/231 dated on
September 8, 2003 of the Central Election
Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan

INSTRUCTION
on rules for the observation of citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan on their own initiative during the Elections

1. Activity of domestic observers (hereafter referred to as observers) during the Presidential Elections of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall be regulated pursuant to Articles 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
1.1. Each citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan with active suffrage can conduct observation on his/her own initiative.
1.2. An application on the observation in the whole territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall be submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan since the declaration of elections up to 10 days prior to the conduct of elections. The application should contain surname, name, patronymic, address of residence, serial number of ID card or its substitute document of the person, if necessary, name of the candidate to presidency whose interests will be represented, name and legal opportunity of non-governmental organization and political party (block of political parties). Two photos should be attached to the application. Decision on each application should be adopted within 3 days since date of its submission. The conduct of observation can be rejected only if the information indicated in the application is not approved.
1.3. If the conduct of observation is allowed then the Central Election Commission should provide the observer with ID card.
2. Application on the observation in the territory of the constituency shall be submitted to the relevant Constituency Election Commission (Con.EC) since the declaration of elections up to 5 days prior to the conduct of elections.
2.1. When the conduct of observation is allowed, the relevant Con.EC shall provide the observer with the ID card prepared in the form defined by the Central Election Commission.
2.2. If the election commission rejects the conduct of observation, then in the case of not ensurance of the complaint from the election commission by the Central Election Commission, the complaint can be submitted to the Appeal Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
2.3. Observers can observe the implementation of election actions in all election commissions, definement of voting results and electoral returns, compliance of the protocol on the voting results and electoral returns, counting of votes or their re-counting.
2.4. Not any special permission is required for observers to observe the session of the election commission on the voting day.
2.5. On the voting day list of the persons who are in the voting room and observe the conduct of election actions shall be implemented by the Secretary of the Precinct Election Commission (PEC).
3. The observation shall be conducted pursuant to Articles 40, 41 and 42 of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Observers shall have equal rights and carry equal duties.
3.1. Observers shall have the rights and duties indicated by Articles 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
3.2. The observer shall be prohibited to do the following actions:
- to issue envelopes to put ballot papers in and ballot papers to the voters;
- to inquiry to the voter about how he/she voted or will vote;
- to sign on getting ballot paper instead of the voter with his/her own request;
- to complete the ballot paper with the request of the voter;
- to participate directly in the counting of ballot papers together with members of election commissions with decisive rights;
- to commit actions that hinder the activity of election commissions;
- to campaign among voters;
- to act or call directed in support of this or other candidate and political party or that can be valued as their support;
- to interfere in the adoption of decisions of relevant election commissions;
- to reply to the questions of voters (excluding questions related to his/her own status).
4. The registration of the observer who do not meet the above-mentioned requirements can be canceled by the relevant court according to the appeal of the election commission that has registered him/her.
4.1. When the observer submits his/her consequence on the observation results to the Central Election Commission, Con.EC and PEC this consequence should be attached to the protocol on the voting results and electoral returns.
4.2. The authorities of observers shall be terminated after the official declaration of the Presidential electoral results.