MOSCOW, November 8 - The Russian Foreign Ministry cautioned international observers against jumping to conclusions about the latest parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan and described as rash the statements by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe that the vote had failed to meet democratic standards.

"As far as we understand, these statements were made even before the official announcement of the election results by Azerbaijan`s Central Election Commission," said the ministry`s official spokesman, Mikhail Kamynin, calling the conclusions politically motivated and counter-productive.

Kamynin said Russia will be ready to make a "competent" conclusion about the Azerbaijani elections after it analyzes accounts by its 300 observers.
sections: Society, World News