The European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission has stated that it cannot intervene in former President Abdulla Yameen's trial.
At a press conference, Chief Observer Jose Ignacio Sanchez Amor said that the mission is completely enclosed in election observation and cannot surpass this scope. He also said that the mission is not entitled to comment on former President Yameen's ongoing judicial process which is a domestic issue.
Additionally, Chief Observer Amor said that the mission will observe whether the upcoming presidential election is held in accordance with the country's democratic principles and international and regional standards. He added that a report will be published after the election.
During a meeting on August 15, Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed requested the EU mission to urge the government to take action regarding the trial of former President Yameen, who is serving an 11-year prison sentence. He said that transferring Yameen to house arrest would ensure a fair election.
In December 2022, the Criminal Court sentenced former President Yameen to 11 years in prison after finding him guilty of charges of money laundering and accepting bribes in relation to the lease of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll, for resort development through Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). He lost the opportunity to participate in the 2023 presidential election following the Supreme Court's ruling that his ongoing prison sentence renders him ineligible to stand as a candidate.