Baku accuses EU of interfering in its internal affairs

BAKU. Sept 3 (Interfax) - Baku has urged the EU to stop interfering in its internal affairs.

European External Action Service spokesman Peter Stano has negatively assessed the early parliamentary election held in Azerbaijan on September 1. The election was held within a restrictive political environment and was devoid of competition, he said.

"Such a subjective claim and biased political consideration by Peter Stano repeating preset negative attitude by the OSCE [Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights] ODIHR towards the elections in Azerbaijan is null and void. Elections took place in complete accordance with the Constitution of the country and its national laws," Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizada said on the X social network on Tuesday.

"We call on EU's EEAS officials to realize the futility of their course of unsuccessful interference into the internal affairs of Azerbaijan and focus on internal problems of some EU member states," Hajizada said.

According to current information from the Azerbaijani Central Elections Commission, the ruling Eni Azerbaijan party will win 68 seats in the 125-member parliament. Another 45 seats will go to independent MPs, and 12 to representatives of nine other political parties.

Voter turnout reached 37.27% in the election, with 990 candidates taking part.