Monitors query Azerbaijan poll as president wins second term

AZERBAIJAN'S PRESIDENTIAL election was not fully democratic, European monitors said yesterday, as Ilham Aliyev celebrated securing a second term in office with almost 90 per cent of votes.

The result of Wednesday's ballot was never in doubt, after leading opposition figures boycotted the poll to protest against the suppression of political dissent and independent media under Mr Aliyev, who succeeded his late father as the leader of energy-rich Azerbaijan in 2003.

The regime's critics refused to accept the results - which gave Mr Aliyev 89 per cent of votes and his nearest rival under 3 per cent. They will have been concerned at western monitors' claims that the poll reflected "considerable progress" over previous elections.

Opposition leaders feared the EU and US would moderate criticism of the election due to their desire for closer ties with Azerbaijan, a crucial supplier of oil and gas. Washington, Brussels and Moscow have all been trying to woo Azerbaijan since Russia's August war with Georgia unsettled the Caucasus region, and Kremlin leader Dmitry Medvedev was quick to congratulate Mr Aliyev (46) after his win.

" presidential election in Azerbaijan marked considerable progress but did not meet all of the country's international commitments," said the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The poll "was characterised by a lack of robust competition and vibrant political discourse . . . that did not reflect all the principles of a meaningful, pluralistic, democratic election", said the group, which sent about 400 monitors to the election. "Regrettably, some opposition parties boycotted the election."

Opposition parties accused officials of inventing the turnout figure of 77 per cent, and of pressuring people to vote for Mr Aliyev. "The authorities have no respect for the people, to the extent they didn't even bother to imitate democratic elections," said one opposition leader, Isa Gambar. Another prominent critic of the regime, Ali Kerimli, added: "We do not accept these elections or this government as legitimate . . . We, the real democratic forces of Azerbaijan, must unite and act together."