Criticism of Azerbaijan's Election: The Republic Strikes Back

Baku confesses itself nonplussed by Washington’s statement that Azerbaijan's November 7 parliamentary vote did not meet international standards.

“We are openly saying that we are surprised and regret the statement of the [US] State Department,” said the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry claimed that the State Department’s verdict did not match in letter and spirit the assessments of international observers.

"We have the grounds to claim that," argued Ali Hasanov, the influential head of the presidential administration's public policy department, who essentially depicted the elections as a bright day for Azerbaijani democracy -- "fair, democratic and transparent" -- APA reported.

But the White House conclusion was echoed in international election observers' assessments which said that the poll “did not mark any meaningful progress in democratic development.” At least it was "peaceful," everyone commented with a collective sigh.

Perhaps a few things did go wrong with this vote, Baku admits, but Washington should hold its horses before Azerbaijani authorities look into the irregularities, the Foreign Ministry said.

With over half of the seats in the 125-seat parliament, President Ilham Aliyev's Yeni Azerbaijan Party easily prevailed at the polls, according to the preliminary results.