Azerbaijan's authoritarian President Ilham Aliyev re-elected with a large majority. Two opposition parties boycotted the election.
Human rights groups spoke of a presidential election that was neither free nor fair. Government officials rejected that, saying Aliyeva's popularity had increased since winning the war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The 62-year-old has ruled the oil-rich country since 2003, when he succeeded his father Haydar.. Next November, Azerbaijan will host the world climate conference COP29.