TIRANA, 25 April 2021 – It is election day in Albania and parliamentarians from across the OSCE region are visiting polling stations throughout the country, observing the election process.

Head of OSCE PA Delegation Lopatka and Special Co-ordinator Guliyev outside a polling station in TiranaAzay Guliyev (MP, Azerbaijan) is Special Co-ordinator of the OSCE short term observer mission, and Reinhold Lopatka (MP, Austria) heads the OSCE PA’s Delegation, which is composed of 62 parliamentarians and staff from 21 OSCE countries deployed today throughout Tirana and multiple regions including Durres, Vlore, Shkoder and Gjirokaster, both in urban and rural areas.

The OSCE PA observers work closely with the Long-Term Election Observer mission of the OSCE/ODIHR and the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Observers were briefed in the days before the elections by representatives of political parties, election analysts and experts, civil society, media representatives and long-term observers.

“As international observers, we hope to see a fair and democratic process and a smooth election day. I am particularly looking forward to seeing the process of electronic voting piloting for the first time in some polling stations in Tirana,” said Guliyev while leaving a polling station in Tirana this morning.

Special Co-ordinator Guliyev in a polling station in Tirana“The COVID-19 pandemic is posing challenges but for the most part we are following our usual observation procedures while taking all necessary precautions to protect the health of observers, voters and election officials,” said Lopatka. “All our observers have followed briefings online ahead of the elections and they have all been tested for COVID”.

Special Co-ordinator Guliyev is observing the voting process in several parts of Tirana, while Head of Delegation Lopatka is monitoring in the cities and rural areas of Tirana and Durres.

The findings of the joint international election observation mission will be presented during a press conference online at 15.00 local time (GMT +2) on 26 April 2021. Please click here for further information.

Photos available for public use on Flickr.