Azerbaijanis go to the polls this Wednesday for an early presidential election. The re-election of the outgoing leader, Ilham Aliyev, seems assured.
Azerbaijanis go to the polls this Wednesday for an early presidential election. The re-election of the outgoing leader, Ilham Aliyev, seems assured. The main opposition parties decided to boycott the vote.
Ilham Aliyev’s popularity increased after the Azerbaijani military offensive in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. And this is felt in the streets of Baku.
“I will participate in the elections and vote for the victorious leader Ilham Aliyev. During a 44-day war, he returned our lands occupied for many years. He achieved a lot, especially for young people” explains a resident of Baku.
“Good conditions have been created for students, for the elderly, for each of us and the country is prospering. In addition, the 30-year-old hope for the liberation of Karabakh has come true. That is why we will vote for our president” adds another resident.
However, according to the opposition, the current situation does not allow democratic elections to be held.
“Many journalists and political activists are in prison. There are more than 200 political prisoners. The electoral law presents serious problems. The electoral commissions are essentially under the influence of the authorities” says Arif Hajili, leader of the opposition Musavat party.
Many opponents accuse the authorities of having called these early elections 14 months in advance to prevent the opposition and the Azerbaijanis “who advocate democratic changes” to prepare for the vote.