European monitors says Azerbaijan's election took place in a restrictive environment

Source: Associated Press

European monitors says Azerbaijan’s election took place in a restrictive environment

BY AIDA SULTANOVA
Updated 9:50 AM EST, February 8, 2024

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said Thursday that Azerbaijan’s presidential election took place in a restrictive environment with no real political competition.

With just over 93% of the ballots counted, incumbent President Ilham Aliyev secured more than 92% of the votes, the head of the Central Election Commission, Mazahir Panahov, said early Thursday. Aliyev’s three main challengers trailed far behind and conceded the race, congratulating him, the Interfax Azerbaijan news agency reported.

Aliyev had called an early vote while enjoying a surge in popularity just months after his forces swiftly reclaimed the Karabakh region from ethnic Armenian separatists who had controlled it for three decades. He is now heading into another seven-year term in office.

The election Wednesday, “took place in a restrictive environment and ... was marked with the stifling of critical voices,” said Artur Gerasymov, Special Co-Ordinator and leader of the OSCE group of election observers in Azerbaijan.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/azerbaijan-election-ilham-aliyev-be047f9e4da5d17cc3226e185124a66e