OSCE Office in Baku welcomes removal of opposition leaders' conviction records

BAKU, 9 August 2005 - The OSCE Office in Baku welcomed today the recent decisions of the courts of Azerbaijan to delete the criminal records of prominent opposition leaders for criminal offences in connection with public disturbances in the direct aftermath of the 2003 Presidential Election. The court's decisions are in line with the recommendation of the OSCE's trial monitoring report on fully cancelling and commuting the sentences.

"These developments should allow both government and opposition to re-establish respect for each other as political players committed to a prosperous and democratic future for Azerbaijan and to campaign solely on the basis of arguments to gain the support of the electorate," said Ambassador Maurizio Pavesi, Head of the OSCE Office in Baku.

Opposition leaders whose conviction records have been removed are now eligible to participate as candidates in the Parliamentary Elections expected to be held on 6 November.