A year earlier than scheduled, almost 6.5 million voters in Azerbaijan are preparing to cast their votes in a crucial presidential election on February 7.
President İlham Aliyev, supported by the New Azerbaijan Party, will be up against six other candidates to become the country's next leader.
Azerbaijan's High-Stakes Election Under Scrutiny
The decision to advance the elections by a year was made by Aliyev through an executive order signed in December 2023, setting the stage for a high-stakes political showdown in the Caucasian country. While presidential elections in Azerbaijan typically occur every seven years, this move has prompted both speculation and criticism.
Both political analysts and public sentiment indicate a strong likelihood of Aliyev securing a fifth term in office. His previous victories, including the landslide triumph in the 2018 election with 86.22 percent of the votes and a voter turnout of 74.5 percent, underscore the incumbent's enduring popularity.
With thousands of polling stations established nationwide and additional stations set up in 37 countries to accommodate Azerbaijani expatriates, the election is poised to be a significant event. Moreover, international scrutiny looms large, with over 60 media organizations from around the world poised to monitor the proceedings closely.
The location of ballot boxes in areas that have just been liberated from Armenian occupation is especially important since this is the first presidential election to take place throughout the whole of Azerbaijan in thirty years. This momentous event comes after Azerbaijan's victorious military operation in September, during which the conflict-prone territory of Nagorno-Karabakh was reclaimed.
President Aliyev's leadership during this period earned him widespread acclaim as a national hero, bringing an end to a protracted dispute that had claimed tens of thousands of lives over the years. Since assuming office in 2003 following the passing of his father, Heydar Aliyev, the 62-year-old leader has navigated the complexities of regional politics with a firm hand.
However, amidst the electoral fervor, concerns have been raised regarding the escalating crackdown on dissenting voices by Azerbaijani authorities. Amnesty International's South Caucasus Researcher, Natalia Nozadze, condemned the government's actions, characterizing them as a systematic assault on civil liberties and the rule of law, as per Hurriyet Daily News.
Arrests Spark Outrage in Azerbaijan
Since November 2023, a wave of arrests targeting journalists, political activists, and human rights defenders has sparked outrage both domestically and internationally. At least 13 individuals have been detained on dubious charges, with many remaining in arbitrary detention. Those who have fled the country fear persecution, adding to the growing chorus of dissent.
Families of those targeted have also become collateral victims in an unsettling trend, subject to financial hardship and intimidation. Many people are in desperate situations as a result of the authorities' use of measures like freezing bank accounts and preventing access to necessary resources.
Ofelya Maharramova, the mother of a jailed journalist, lamented her inability to afford vital medication due to the freeze on her pension and health benefits. Similarly, the families of other detainees have been subjected to economic hardship, further underscoring the punitive nature of the government's actions.
Defense lawyers have decried these measures as baseless and contrary to legal norms, emphasizing the lack of justification for targeting innocent family members. The tactic of freezing assets, they argue, represents a blatant attempt to silence dissent by punishing not only critics but also their loved ones.
As Azerbaijan braces for a pivotal moment in its political landscape, the outcome of the election remains uncertain amid growing concerns over the erosion of democratic principles and human rights. With the world watching, the stakes could not be higher for the future of the nation and its people, according to Amnesty International.
