Approved by the Decision # 30/119
of the Central Election Commission of
the Republic of Azerbaijan
dated on June 24, 2006

INSTRUCTION
on the rules for activity of international (foreign) observers
in Municipal Elections of the Republic of Azerbaijan

The Instruction has been prepared pursuant to Articles 1.1.18, 1.1.19, 1.1.20, 40-42 and 44 of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (hereafter referred to as – Election Code).
International (foreign) observers (hereinafter - international observers) shall be invited in the case and time defined by Articles 44.1-44.3 of Election Code.
Citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan are not entitled to get the status of international observer for observing elections in the country.
International observer applies to the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan (hereafter referred to as – Central Election Commission) for getting accredited and completes the relevant application form. The application for observation within the whole  territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan is submitted to the Central Election Commission up to 10 days prior to the elections since the declaration of elections. The decision on each application should be received within 3 days since its submission. The application is rejected only in the case when information indicated in the application is not approved. The application form must contain the following information on persons intending to observe elections:
• surname, name, patronymic;
• address of residence;
• serial number of ID card or the document that substitutes it;
• name and address of the represented organization;
• 2 photos (of size 3x4) attached to the form.
When conduct of observation is permitted, the Central Election Commission provides international observer with a badge (Appendice # 1 made to Instruction) prepared according to the filed documents in the state language of the Republic of Azerbaijan and in one of foreign languages.
Photo, name, surname, passport number of observer, name of the organization that observer represents should be on the front side of the badge and ratified by the seal of the Secretariat of the Central Election Commission. The relevant extracts from the Election Code on the activity of the international observer should be on the backside of the badge. Only after receiving this kind of accreditation badge, international observers can function in accordance with the Articles 40-42 and 44 of the Election Code during the preparation and conduct of elections.
The international observer functions independently and freely in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Election commissions, state and municipal bodies shall render necessary assistance to international observers.
Activity of the international observer is financed by the organization that sends observer or by his/her own account.
The international observers shall have the same rights and implement the same duties as domestic observers.
The international observer has the following rights besides the rights determined by Articles 40.12 and 40.13 of the Election Code:
- to become familiar with voters lists;
- to be present in the voting room of the relevant election precinct at any time;
- to observe the issuance of ballot papers and envelopes for ballot papers to voters on the voting day;
- to observe voting outside of polling stations;
- to count number of voters, to observe counting of ballot papers and cancelled ballot papers;
- to require the observation results to be attached to the protocol of the election commission;
- to observe the envelopes for ballot papers, marked and unmarked ballot papers in order to check the vote’s validity during the vote count in a condition ensuring observation of vote count and from certain distance; to become familiar with the election commission’s protocol on voting results and election (referendum) returns and with other election documents;
- to participate in parallel counting of votes;
- to apply to the chairperson of the Precinct Election Commission regarding suggestions and comments about organization of voting, if he/she is not available, to a person who substitiutes him/her;
- starting from the commencement of election commission’s activity on the voting day and the ballot boxes are sealed and till the reception of protocols on voting results by election commissions, to make or obtain one verified copy free of charge and then photocopy and obtain other copies of documents of election commissions, as well as protocols on voting results and election (referendum) returns, documents and attached documents prepared by election commissions after the fee defined by the Central Election Commission is paid (the election commission should verify copies of the above mentioned documents at the request of an observer); to become familiar with the list of participated voters;
- to observe the recount of votes in the relevant election commissions;
- to observe transfer of election documents to the Constituency Election Commission and the Central Election Commission.
- to conduct press conferences dedicated to the election legislation, preparation and conduct of elections and make statements to the mass media after the Election Day;
- to meet with voters, candidates, registered candidates, members of election commissions, authorized representatives of political parties, blocs of political parties, agents of registered candidates, political parties, blocs of political parties;
- international observers can use interpretation service during his/her activity.
Person providing interpretation service for international observers in election processes shall apply to the Central Election Commission and complete the relevant application form (Appendice # 2). The following information of the person providing interpretation service should be described on the application form:
• surname, name, patronymic;
• address of residence;
• serial number of ID card (or the document that substitutes it);
• 2 photos (of size 3x4).
The Central Election Commission provides person attending as a translator with the relevant badge (Appendice # 3). Photo, name, surname, patronymic, serial number of the ID card or the document that substitutes it shall be provided. Term of office of the translator commences since his/her registration at the Central Election Commission and finishes on the day of official publication of general election results.
Observers shall be prohibited to do the following actions:
- to issue ballot papers and envelopes to put ballot papers in to voters;
- to put question to voter how he/her intends to vote or has voted;
- to complete the ballot paper upon the request of the voter;
- to sign on getting ballot papers instead of the voter with the request of the voter;
- to participate directly in the counting of votes together with the members of election commissions with decisive rights to vote;
- to behave in the way that prevents the activity of election commissions;
- to conduct campaign among voters;
- to behave or to call to behave in the way that can be considered to support or to call to support any candidate or political party;
- to interfere in the adoption of the decisions of the relevant election commission;
- to answer the questions of voters (excluding questions related to his/her own status).
International observers are under the protection of state during the period of their presence in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The international observer is not allowed to use his/her status to be in activity not related to the process of election campaign, preparation and conduct of elections.
The Central Election Commission can annul the registration of the international observer in the case of his/her violation of laws, norms of international law.
Observation shall commence since the day of declaration of elections and end on the day of official publication of general electoral returns after considering all election-related arguments.