On 4 December, the visiting Russian delegation led by the Head of the Secretariat/Secretary General of the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS) Dmitry Kobitsky called at the new office building of the Baku Branch of the International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development and Parliamentarism, and Suffrage Protection for Citizens (IIMDD).

Mr Kobitsky, his First Deputy Serghey Kudrin, Deputy Secretary General and the IIMDD Director Ivan Mushket, the IIMDD Deputy Director Yelena Yeremenko, Mr Kobitsky’s other Deputy/Permanent Representative of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan to the IPA CIS Aydin Jafarov, the Director of the IIMDD Baku Branch Teymur Muradov and the branch staff took part in the gathering held to discuss planning the future work of the Institute.

Dmitry Kobitsky said that the launch of the new office building of the Institute’s branch in Baku was a true highlight. He thanked the Chair of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan for her support for inter-parliamentary connexions’ promotion and in securing the new premises for the Baku Branch.

‘I think the office will make a contribution of its own to our common work and will speed up the development of the inter-parliamentary connexions,’ Mr Kobitsky commented.

The Baku Branch of the IIMDD will continue in its role of an academic and research centre. Those concerned with parliamentarism matters as well as professors and students will benefit from the work done by the Branch, added the Secretary General of the IPA CIS Council.

Mr Kobitsky also underlined the need to unite the Commonwealth states’ efforts in the name of building stronger ties amongst their parliaments and boosting their efforts to foster democracy and parliamentarism.

That was followed by the awarding ceremony for the winners of the Second International Students’ Internet Olympics themed ‘Election Systems of the World’s Countries’. Orchestrated by the IPA CIS IIMDD, it had taken place in September this year.

Once the ceremony was over, the guests answered the questions of the press.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis