Azerbaijani Presidential Election: Aliyev Casts Ballot in Stepanakert
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev travelled to Stepanakert to cast his vote today in that country’s early presidential election.
Aliyev called for a snap election last December, following Azerbaijan’s military offensive to recapture Nagorno Karabakh.
Aliyev has declared that he wants the election to “mark the beginning of a new era,” in which Azerbaijan has full control over its territory.
Aliyev, who’s governed Azerbaijan since 2003, is running for a fifth presidential term.
There are no term limits in Azerbaijan and presidents serve for seven years.
A fifth term for Aliyev is regarded as a forgone conclusion in today’s vote also because of a crackdown on independent media and the absence of any real opposition.
The six other candidates on the ballot pose no serious challenge to Aliyev.
Azerbaijan’s two main opposition parties – Musavat and the Popular Front party – claim the election isn’t democratic are boycotting the vote.
There are 6,537 polling stations on the territory of Azerbaijan, 26 of which were opened in Nagorno Karabakh.
Update: Exit polls in Azerbaijan show Ilham Aliyev as the winner in today’s snap presidential election with 93.9% of the vote. Parliament member Zahid Oruj is in second place with 1.8%. Six candidates challenged Aliyev in today’s vote.
Photo: AP Photo/Sergei Grits
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