Azerbaijan is holding a snap election on Wednesday, with President Ilham Aliyev expected to secure another seven-year term. Aliyev, who has been in power for over 20 years, called for the early election following Azerbaijan's swift recapture of the Karabakh region from ethnic Armenian separatists.
Analysts suggest that Aliyev's decision to move up the election was a strategic move to capitalize on his increased popularity after the successful military operation in Karabakh. The president will also be in the international spotlight next month as Azerbaijan hosts a United Nations climate change conference.
Voters in Baku, the capital city, have expressed their support for Aliyev, crediting him with reclaiming the occupied territories. Many Azerbaijanis believe that he has brought an end to decades of occupation and restored their lands to their rightful control.
Aliyev has stated that he wants this election to mark a new era for Azerbaijan, where the country has full control over its territory. He, along with his family, cast their ballots in Khankendi, the city that was previously called Stepanakert and served as the headquarters for the separatist government.
The region, formerly internationally known as Nagorno-Karabakh, fell under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia after a separatist war in 1994. However, Azerbaijan regained parts of the region and its surrounding territory in 2020, following a six-week war that ended with a truce brokered by Moscow. In September, Azerbaijan launched a swift and powerful offensive, routing the separatist forces in just one day and forcing them to surrender.
The conflict resulted in the displacement of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians from the region. Many Azerbaijanis who were forced to leave their homes during the occupation are now expressing their gratitude to Aliyev for reclaiming their native lands.
In Fuzuli, a city near Karabakh that was under Armenian control until 2020, a robust turnout was witnessed, with voters eager to exercise their rights. The city, which still bears the scars of the Armenian occupation, has seen new apartment buildings constructed to house the returning population.
Raya Feyziyeva, a 73-year-old who was forced to leave Fuzuli in 1993, expressed her gratitude toward Aliyev for restoring her hometown. She described her happiness at being able to return to her native land after 30 years of longing. Another voter, Vusal Jumshudov, who fought as a soldier to reclaim the Fuzuli region in 2020, expressed pride in their accomplishments under Aliyev's leadership.
While there are six other candidates in the election, none pose a significant challenge to Aliyev's re-election. The president faces no term limits and has been criticized for introducing restrictive laws on political debate and cracking down on opposition figures and independent journalists.
Notably, two main opposition parties, Musavat and the People's Front of Azerbaijan, have decided not to participate in the election due to concerns about the lack of democracy and the alleged influence of the authorities over the election commissions. Musavat leader Arif Hajili pointed to the high number of political prisoners and issues with election laws as reasons for their boycott.
Critics argue that calling for an early election without allowing for public debate indicates a fear of political competition within the government. Despite these concerns, Aliyev is widely expected to secure another term in office and continue his reign as Azerbaijan's president.
