First instance body dealing with electoral disputes

Election Code ofthe Republic of Azerbaijan, (as of 2013, in English)

Source: http://www.msk.gov.az//uploads/qanunvericilik/election_code_eng.pdf

Article 17.1.Elections and referendums in the Republic of Azerbaijan shall be organized andheld by election (referendum) commissions.

17.2. Under the authority established by this Code,election (referendum) bodies/commissions shall ensure the preparation andholding of elections (referendum), determination of voting results and election(referendum) Returns, and the realization, protection, and observation ofcitizens’ suffrage rights.

Article 18. 2. The Central Election Commission shallsupervise the activity of election commissions.

Article 25. 2. The Central Election Commission shall carry out the following generalduties:

25.2.2. consider within its authority the complaintsrelated to violation of rules set forth in this Code, and make groundeddecisions.

25.2.4. supervisethe activity of Constituency and Precinct Election Commissions;

25.2.14. supervisefunding of pre-election campaigns;

25.2.22. cancelillegal decisions of election commissions, present information to the relevantcommission with regard to the chairmen and secretaries of the electioncommissions not appropriately fulfilling their responsibilities; and

26.1.5. ensuresupervision of spending of referendum funds by referendum campaign groups;

26.3.8. ensure thesupervision of the spending of election funds of presidential candidates;

Article 31. 1. The Constituency Election Commissionshall perform the following general duties:

31.1.2. consider, within its own authority, complaintsrelated to the violation of rules set forth in this Code, and make groundeddecisions;

32.1.3. ensurecontrol on spending of election funds of referendum campaign groups inreferendum constituencies;

Article 37. .1. ThePrecinct Election Commission shall perform the following duties duringpreparation and conduct of referendums, elections of deputies to the MilliMajlis, Presidential elections and elections to municipalities:

37.1.5. overseecompliance with the rules for pre-election and pre-referendum campaigningwithin the territory of the election precinct;

37.1.9. examinecomplaints concerning the violation of the requirements of this Code and makegrounded decisions within its authority;

Article 112-1. 1. In order to investigate complaints on actions(lack of actions) and decisions that violate citizens’ election rights relevantexpert groups shall be created at the Central Election Commission composed of 9members, and at the Constituency Election Commission composed of 3 members.Commissions’ lawyer members may be included in the composition of these groups.Rules for establishing expert groups shall be determined by the CentralElection Commission.