Closed land borders, early parliamentary elections

On June 21, the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) proposed to President Ilham Aliyev the holding of early parliamentary elections. This proposal has stirred political debate within the country.

Arif Hajily, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Musavat party, voiced his criticisms during the "Difficult Question" program. He labeled the decision to extend the quarantine as "absurd" and unfounded, arguing that the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a threat. Hajily pointed out that many countries have long since lifted their quarantine measures and reopened borders, and he believes that continuing to enforce such restrictions harms Azerbaijani society and reflects authoritarian governance.

Hajily further contended that the closed borders, ostensibly maintained for security reasons, are ineffective. He argued that genuine security threats, such as the smuggling of weapons and drugs, do not occur through official checkpoints but via alternative routes. According to Hajily, the real beneficiaries of the border closures are the oligarchs, as the restrictions primarily impact ordinary citizens and small businesses while big businessmen remain unaffected.

In addition to criticizing the quarantine measures, Hajily addressed the proposed early parliamentary elections. He suggested that the government's aim is to avoid holding elections in a competitive environment. By scheduling snap elections, often in adverse weather conditions, voter turnout is likely to be suppressed, he claimed. Hajily emphasized that the core issue is not the timing of the elections but the lack of fair and competitive conditions for conducting them.

The government's decision to extend the quarantine and the proposal for early elections have prompted significant public and political discourse. As Azerbaijan navigates these challenges, the responses of the authorities and the public will be closely watched.