Azerbaijan Holds Snap Parliamentary Election

Azerbaijan is conducting a snap parliamentary election, the first since regaining control over the Karabakh region in a military offensive last year. Scheduled for September 1 to avoid conflict with the upcoming UN climate conference in Baku, the election is unlikely to shift the dominance of President Ilham Aliyev's New Azerbaijan party, which holds 69 of 125 parliamentary seats. Historically, elections in Azerbaijan have not been considered fully free or fair, and this vote faces scrutiny from international observers, including a significant presence from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Despite these concerns, the Ombudsperson's office has reported extensive preparations, including polling stations equipped with web cameras and Braille ballots for visually impaired citizens. The election features 990 registered candidates, with 51,141 first-time voters participating, including some of the oldest voters in the country. Observers have reported calm voting conditions without significant violations at polling stations across the nation.