Aliyev wins Azerbaijani presidential election - CEC chair
BAKU. April 12 (Interfax) - Incumbent Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has won the country's presidential election with 86.3% of the vote, Azerbaijani Central Elections Commission (CEC) Chairman Mazahir Panahov said at a press conference on Thursday.
"The vote count has been completed. Incumbent head of state Ilham Aliyev won Azerbaijan's presidential election, receiving 86.3% of the vote. These are initial figures," Panahov said.
A total of 3,397,664 citizens cast their ballots for Aliyev, he said.
Self-nominee Zahid Oruc has received 3.11% of the vote, Sardar Jalaloglu (Democratic Party) 3.03%, Gudrat Hasanguliyev (the Popular Front Party of Whole Azerbaijan) 3.02%, Hafiz Hajiyev (Modern Musavat) 1.52%, Araz Alizada (Social Democratic Party ) 1.38%, Faraj Guliyev (National Revival Movement Party) 1.17%, and Razi Nurullayev (Azerbaijan Popular Front Party) 0.74%, Panahov said.
"Voter turnout was 74.3%. The election was held in an orderly manner. This has been confirmed by international and local observers," he said.
Ilham Aliyev has led Azerbaijan since 2003. He was re-elected in 2008 and 2013.
Under the constitutional changes approved in the fall of 2016, the president serves for seven years.