Azerbaijan Releases Final Poll Results

An election monitor inks a voter's hand with invisible ink during the 6 November poll (RFE/RL) 23 November 2005 -- Azerbaijan's election authorities today released the final results of the disputed 6 November parliamentary polls.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) says that, with the votes from 121 of the country's 125 electoral constituencies validated, the Yeni Azerbaycan (New Azerbaijan) ruling party won 58 seats in the 125-member national assembly.


Independent candidates won 48 seats.


The Azadliq (Freedom) and Yeni Siyaset (New Politics) opposition coalitions won seven and two seats each. One seat went to the opposition Liberal Party and another one to an individual candidate from the Musavat party.


Reports say the four representatives of the opposition in the CEC refused to endorse those results, which were sent to the Constitutional Court for approval.


Opposition parties claim the polls were fraudulent and demand that new elections be held.


Following complaints filed by opposition and independent candidates, election authorities have voided the outcome of the vote in four constituencies.


(RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service/turan.az/Day.az)