Azerbaijan heads to polls for snap parliamentary elections

Azerbaijan’s early parliamentary election began at 8:00 a.m. local time. This marks the seventh time Azerbaijanis are heading to the polls to elect members of the National Assembly.

With 6.42 million registered voters and 990 candidates vying for 125 seats, voting will continue until 7:00 p.m. local time.

Preliminary unofficial results are expected to be announced later in the evening.

Regions freed from Armenian occupation have also set up polling stations. All of Azerbaijan’s territory is hosting parliamentary elections for the first time in 30 years.

Over 42,000 voters in cities such as Shusha, Khankendi, Khojali, Khojavend, Aghdere, Agdam, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Gubadli, Lachin and Kelbajar will cast their votes.

Türkiye, TURKPA observers monitor polls

Samil Ayrım, Co-Chair of the Türkiye-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group and AK Party Istanbul MP, observed the elections. Ayrim noted that the election process in Azerbaijan was peaceful, democratic and transparent.

He emphasized the importance of Azerbaijan maintaining stability to achieve lasting peace in the Caucasus.

Ahmet Zenbilci, head of the Turkish Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic States (TURKPA) delegation and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Adana MP, also observed the elections.

Zenbilci commented that the electoral process adhered to Azerbaijani law and election regulations, expressing satisfaction with Azerbaijan’s democratic progress.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, along with his wife Mehriban Aliyeva and daughter Leyla Aliyeva, cast their votes at a polling station in the sixth school in central Baku during the early hours of the election day.