This rather significant improvement in the registration process comes partly as a result of intense pressures from international organizations as well as a desire on the part of authorities to hold relatively freer and fairer elections to avoid velvet revolutions similar to those in Ukraine and Georgia. According to official statistics from the Central Election Commission, 2,237 persons applied to the district election commissions for signature forms, and 2149 of them have returned completed signature forms. Under pressure from the Council of Europe, the Azerbaijani Parliament earlier this summer adopted a number of amendments to the Election Code, one of which was the reduction of requirements for the candidates to get registered. The number of required signatures for registration was reduced from 2,500 to 450. This subsequently allowed many candidates to register.

Another positive feature of the registration process was the high number of non-ruling party members that registered for the elections. While the ruling party, YAP, registered 432 candidates, the number of registered independent candidates reached 968 and opposition parties fielded more than 350 candidates. Even opposition leaders Isa Qambar of the Musavat party and Ali Kerimli of the Popular Front party, in addition to a dozen high ranking opposition activists, were registered without major problems. It should also be noted that 188 (9%) of the registered candidates are women and 446 (22%) are young candidates aged 25-40.

Meanwhile, the registration of two other prominent oppositionists who are currently in exile has added extra praise for the ruling regime. Rasul Guliyev, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party and currently living in exile, was barred from participation in the 2003 Presidential elections, yet this time his registration was without problems. Immediately, however, the General Prosecutor’s office ordered to lift his candidate immunity, and threatened to arrest him should he come back to Baku. Guliyev is accused of embezzlement of state funds in the amount of $80 million when he was Head of the petroleum refinery in Baku in the early 1990s. ADP officials claim that the case is fabricated to prevent his return. Local experts are unable explain why the authorities have registered him and then immediately lifted his candidate immunity. A similar situation unfolded with the co-chairman of the Social Democratic party and former President of Azerbaijan, Ayaz Mutalibov.

The elections are expected to be very competitive. Most of the districts have more than 15 candidates from a wide range of the political spectrum, and one district in Baku even has 37 candidates. YAP has fielded its strongest and most high ranking persons in the regions outside of Baku, and the opposition has done so in the capital. Local analysts believe that this is done because of the massive international observation effort which will probably focus mostly on Baku.

Meanwhile, this week the U.S. embassy in Baku announced the name of the U.S. company that will conduct, for the first time ever, an exit poll during the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. PA Consulting Group was selected by USAID as the company to conduct this exit poll. Opposition parties and independent candidates are very hopeful that the exit poll will deter fraud in polling stations and further ensure a democratic process in these elections.

The next phase of the campaign is devoted to campaigning, which will last until November 5. Hundreds of candidates are expected to go door-to-door and try to win the hearts of voters. In this task, it will be crucial that local authorities not create problems in their meetings with voters. President Ilham Aliyev has instructed all local governors not to interfere with the electoral process and has fired the deputy governor of the Salyan district for doing so. It will remain to be seen if this will teach other local officials a lesson.