Azerbaijani citizens living in Türkiye go to polls for presidential elections

By Gokhan Celiker

ANKARA (AA) – Azerbaijani citizens living in Türkiye went to polling stations set up at the country's embassy in the capital Ankara on Wednesday to cast their votes in Azerbaijan's presidential election.

“After the voting ends, the votes will be counted at the embassy by the election commission and Azerbaijan’s Central Election Commission will be informed about it,” Mushfik Mammedov, the head of the polling station in Ankara, told the press.

“After that, ballot papers will be sent to Azerbaijan,” he added.

Azerin, an Azerbaijani singer, told Anadolu that it is her duty as a citizen to cast a vote for the history and future of Azerbaijan, stressing the importance of the elections.

Orhan Hasanoglu, the head of the Azerbaijan-Cyprus Friendship Society, thanked Anadolu for giving a chance to Azerbaijani people living across the world for their voices to be heard.

He said Azerbaijani citizens living in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus came to Ankara to exercise their constitutional right.

This election is “different” for Azerbaijanis living in different parts of the world, Hasanoglu said, noting: “Because this is the biggest, most exciting election we've had since the Karabakh victory.”

Leyla Hasanzade, another Azerbaijani citizen, also thanked the embassy for the opportunity provided for them to cast their votes in a democratic environment.

Azerbaijani citizens living in Türkiye will continue to cast their votes in the polling stations in different provinces of the country for Azerbaijan's presidential elections.

- Presidential elections

More than 6,500 polling stations, including abroad, opened at 8 a.m. local time (0400GMT) on Wednesday, and the voting will continue till 7 p.m. local time (1500GMT).

About 800 foreign and 90,000 local observers from international organizations and countries are monitoring the elections, as well as the local press and about 200 foreign journalists.

Seven candidates have been registered to participate in the presidential elections, including the current head of state Ilham Aliyev.

Aliyev was nominated by the Yeni Azerbaijan Party (EPA). Six other candidates are chairman of the National Front Party Razi Nurullayev, head of the Great Creation Party Fazil Mustafa, chairman of the Great Azerbaijan Party Elshad Musayev, head of the People's Front of All Azerbaijan party Gudrat Hasanguliyev, and independent candidates Zahid Oruch and Fuad Aliyev.

The last presidential election in Azerbaijan, which is held every seven years, was held on April 11, 2018. Through a decree signed by Aliyev, the presidential elections, which were scheduled for October 2025, were moved forward.

Polling stations have also opened in the areas liberated by Azerbaijan from the Armenian occupation in 2020-2023. So, for the first time in 30 years, presidential elections are being held throughout the entire territory of Azerbaijan.

More than 22,000 voters will vote in the city of Shusha, the "pearl" of Karabakh, in Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavand, Agder, Aghdam, Jabrail, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Gubadli, Lachin, and Kelbajar.

*Writing by Merve Berker