Russian MP praises relations with Azerbaijan and election process

Russian MP Amir Khamitov has said that the voting process in Azerbaijan’s parliamentary elections is proceeding smoothly.

 Khamitov said that he has visited several polling stations and observed that everything is running calmly, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

"I have not noticed any significant violations. All necessary information is being fully provided. People are coming to the polls, making their choices, and fulfilling their civic duty by selecting the candidate they trust," he said. He noted that Azerbaijan and Russia have established strong and friendly relations. "Recently, our presidents met, and just a few days ago, they had a joint phone talk. I believe that these interactions have outlined prospects for development in trade, culture, and tourism," he added.

Polls have opened in Azerbaijan's snap parliamentary elections. A total of 990 candidates are vying for 125 seats in the Azerbaijani parliament. Across the republic, 6,478 polling stations have been set up to accommodate the 6,421,960 registered voters. Notably, 51,141 citizens will be casting their votes for the first time in the elections.

The Central Election Commission has printed 6,516,567 ballot papers to ensure a smooth voting process. According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), 112,749 local observers and 589 international observers from 51 international organizations and 69 countries have been registered for the elections. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called for the snap elections on June 28, 2024. 

The polls will remain open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. Following Azerbaijan’s Election Code, the election campaign commenced on August 9, 2024, and officially paused 24 hours before the voting began, respecting the election silence period. The elections have attracted participation from 25 political parties, with candidates represented across the ballots. With nearly a thousand candidates, the competition for the parliamentary seats is expected to be intense.