The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has decided to observe the elections following a report by the needs assessment mission to Azerbaijan in late February, Corien Jonker, head of the ODIHR election observation mission, said at a press conference in Baku on March 9.

“We are glad that we have received an invitation from Azerbaijan in time,” she said.

According to Jonker, this allows them to follow pre-election procedures.

"Observation will be conducted in accordance with the ODIHR methodology. All OSCE member states have undertaken to hold elections in accord with the OSCE election commitments. We will not intervene in the elections. The ODIHR does not police elections, nor is it interested in election results. What we seek is transparency in elections,” she added.

The election observation mission will cover all parts of the country with 10 teams, Jonker noted. “We will first release interim reports. The final report will be announced eight weeks after the end of the voting process,” she added.

The presidential election in Azerbaijan is to be held on April 11, 2018, according to an order signed on Feb. 5 by the country's President Ilham Aliyev.