Municipal Elections Conclude Amid Low Voter Turnout

On January 29, municipal elections in Azerbaijan took place against the backdrop of low voter turnout and significant controversy. Voters cast their ballots between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., with the Central Election Commission (CEC) reporting a smooth process. However, independent observers and opposition representatives voiced concerns over the transparency and inclusiveness of the elections.

The elections covered 118 electoral districts and 5,846 polling stations, with 5,961,987 eligible voters. A total of 16,092 candidates competed for 8,071 positions in 685 municipalities, following a reform in October 2024 that consolidated 1,400 municipalities into a smaller number. While the CEC claimed high voter participation, independent reports painted a different picture. Opposition parties such as Musavat and REAL participated alongside candidates from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party. However, social media users expressed skepticism, questioning the legitimacy of the opposition’s participation and accusing some of being "bus parties"—a term used to describe groups acting as mere proxies for the authorities.

Media coverage of the elections was notably sparse, and many citizens were unaware that elections were even taking place. Campaign posters and promotional materials were largely absent, particularly in residential areas, raising further concerns about the transparency of the electoral process. Despite these issues, the CEC emphasized that 1,000 polling stations were equipped with webcams, though international observers were conspicuously absent from the event.

Throughout the day, reports of violations surfaced. Opposition parties and independent journalists documented various election irregularities. Journalist Nurlan Libre was expelled from a polling station in Baku for having an expired press credential, an incident exacerbated by the station chairman’s accusations that Libre was a "provocateur" disrupting the voting process. Similarly, civil society activist Ahmed Mamedli reported threats of physical violence at a polling station in the Nasimi-Sabayil district, where he uncovered a new method of electoral fraud: carousel voting with a twist. Instead of voting in groups multiple times at different locations, individual voters were instructed to cast ballots one by one under the supervision of so-called "coordinators," who ensured they voted at different sites without interacting with each other.

Additional violations included ballot stuffing, with video footage emerging of ballots hastily being thrown into boxes at polling station No. 14. These incidents were captured by webcams and later circulated on social media and independent media platforms.

By 6 p.m., voter turnout stood at just 28.8%, with no official press statements from either the opposition or the ruling party. However, the lack of media coverage and limited opportunities for free campaigning had already drawn criticism from opposition figures before election day. Hikmet Hajiyev, an aide to the president, responded by stating that the elections were held in a "free and democratic environment."

In a notable departure from previous practice, international observers were not invited to monitor the elections. CEC Chairman Mazahir Panahov explained that this was a domestic matter, marking a shift from the 2019 elections, which had been observed by representatives from European countries and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

According to CEC Deputy Chairman Rovzat Gasimov, by the end of the day, no official complaints had been filed with the commission, despite numerous reports indicating electoral violations. With the absence of international oversight and amid allegations of election fraud, the elections may ultimately reflect deepening divisions in Azerbaijani politics and ongoing challenges in ensuring fair democratic processes.