AZERBAIJAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: BUSINESS AS USUAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000987

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EUR/CARC, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV HUM KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: BUSINESS AS USUAL
IN BAKU AND BEYOND

REF: A. BAKU 981

B. BAKU 924

C. BAKU 813

BAKU 00000987 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) Election day in Azerbaijan, based on informal
Embassy observation in Baku and the immediate surroundings,
was generally unremarkable, with an absence of enthusiasm on
the part of the population and a heavy dose of cynicism among
voters and non-voters alike. Polling stations in the
metropolitan area opened at 8:00am with only a trickle of
people on hand to vote in the nation's third round of
municipal elections. Embassy observers noted slow streams of
voters coming forth in the hours before lunch, with precinct
captains reporting turnout at mid-day ranging from 10-40
percent. By mid-afternoon, many polling stations appeared to
be empty, except for election day staff. Polling stations
will remain open until 7:00pm.

2. (SBU) Ballots for the nationwide elections differed by
precinct, with each district aiming to elect up to 19
municipal council members from a long list of candidates.
The ballots themselves, which were about one meter long,
displayed upwards of 40-60 candidates, the vast majority of
which represented the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party or parties
acting as surrogates. Each candidate was listed by full
name, with a very brief biography, including party
affiliation. According to eyewitnesses and other observers,
voters were hard-pressed to identify or recognize candidates,
and could hardly be expected to choose 19 council members in
a reasonable, methodical manner.

3. (SBU) Official Azerbaijani election observers, arranged by
the Central Election Commission (CEC),were on hand at
polling stations, but did not always appear to be taking
their positions seriously. Polling stations in Azerbaijan
tend to be at schools, institutes and universities, which
were closed for teaching today. School staff, including
teachers and professors, in turn commonly served as official
observers. The observers, in any case, seemed to know one
another, and tended, regardless of party affiliation, not to
contradict the precinct captain or one another. In some
cases, official observers did not know which party they were
assigned to represent. In other cases, official observers
said that they were representing the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan
Party, but their badges listed a separate, relatively unknown
political party.

4. (SBU) Embassy observers noted numerous irregularities and
violations, some of which were thought to be insignificant,
such as the premature cutting of corners off of ballets in
advance of voter turnout, more than one person at a time in a
voting booth, and improper inking procedures. Other
observations were more problematic, such as multiple ballots
bunched up and folded together in ballot boxes and an
inability to count the number of participants from voter
registration sheets. Embassy observers did not witness
extraordinary "get out the vote" measures, such as voters
arriving by bus. Opposition leaders, however, complained to
the press that some voters in regions outside Baku were
denied entry to polling stations, and also suggested that
certain groups of people were voting in multiple districts.

5. (SBU) Morning television showed the President, his wife
and daughters voting in the Sabayil region of Baku. The
President did not make a statement before or after voting.
CEC Chairman Panahov in press conference last night said he
expected turnout of 30-40 percent. Polling station chiefs
today reflected those figures, noting that 30-40 percent as a
de facto benchmark. The CEC's mid-day estimates showed that
perhaps only 17 percent of voters had participated by 12:00.
Meanwhile, around Baku workers prepared for the other
business of the day -- President Aliyev's birthday later this
week -- putting up new flags and posterboards.

6. (SBU) Embassy observers universally noted that
Azerbaijanis almost collectively have little idea what this
election is about. Residents of Baku and surrounding regions
do not understand the roles of municipal councils, and have
little confidence in councils to represent their interests.
"Man on the street" interviews suggested that Baku residents
do not believe that these councils "do anything", and suggest
that council members are only interested in zoning issues and
real estate transactions. Some Baku residents noted that
apartment blocs already have building superintendents, and
thus local councilmen are not needed to replicate that
effort. Rather, these residents said, these building
superintendents should be made more accountable to local
communities. No one expressed any hope that municipal
council members would contribute to or augment this effort.
Comment - Process vs. Procedure
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BAKU 00000987 002.2 OF 002



7. (SBU) Local press and international observers tend to
focus on voting day irregularities and violations. In
today's vote, however, nothing much was left to chance on
election day. Rather, everything but the final results
seemed to be arranged ahead of time. Most notably, the
ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party dominated the candidate lists,
and thus the President's party pretty much assured itself the
majority of seats on councils. All that was left for
election day, subject to fraud perhaps, was voter turnout.
On that front, authorities seemed satisfied with 30-40
percent participation.
LU