Ilham Aliyev Wins 'Restrictive' Presidential Election

The national elections commission said that with 65 percent of the ballots counted, President Ilham Aliyev had received 86 percent of the vote in an early presidential election.

"The amounts of oil are falling and the amounts of gas will be quite modest, so I expect to see some kind of rebalancing of the relationship between Azerbaijan and the West in the next few years", said Thomas de Waal, from Carnegie Europe. Azerbaijan's main opposition parties did not participate in the polls and had called for a boycott, claiming that the vote would be rigged.

Aliyev's foreign policy aide, Novruz Mamedov, said on Facebook: "Circulation of a report that has been prepared in advance.is a disrespect to voters, people, their will and choice".

According to an exit poll conducted by ELS Research Center, the current president is leading the race with 82.71% of the votes.

The National Council of Democratic Forces, an opposition group, claimed late Wednesday that only about 15 percent of the electorate voted, while Azerbaijan's elections commission reported the turnout at almost 75 percent.

This was the first presidential election in Azerbaijan since constitutional amendments in 2016 that further increased the powers of the president.

Aliyev brought forward the date of the vote to April 11 from October 17, a move his allies said was necessary to avoid presidential and parliamentary elections clashing in 2025.

Seven candidates ran, but critics questioned whether they were actual opponents.

The OSCE monitors will present their observations at a news conference on Thursday.

Aliyev has tried to strike a balance between Azerbaijan's former Soviet master Russian Federation and the West, notably on energy policy.

Recommended:

• 

  12 April 2018

  Saudi Arabia intercepts missile fired towards Jizan

  Earlier this month, the coalition said the rebels attacked a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, causing "minor damage" to the ship. Houthi rebels reportedly fired a number of missiles towards a Saudi government building.
  

  11 April 2018

  After Congress, Modi-led BJP to fast over parliament washout

  On Friday, Modi had accused Congress of resorting to divisive politics and announced BJP's hunger strike as a protest. Party sources said Modi will stick to his schedule and work from his residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg despite the fast.

  Predicted line-ups — Real Madrid-Juventus

  He also confirmed an offer for the Welsh international's services last August from an English club, was rejected by Real. Real Madrid are without suspended captain Sergio Ramos while Nacho Fernandez will miss out through injury.
• 

  12 April 2018

  UEFA charges Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola with improper conduct

  A Liverpool fan has gone viral after he correctly predicted the events in the club's Champions League match at Manchester City . How much of every Grand Prix do you watch?
  

  10 April 2018

  Transgender weightlifter Hubbard says injury career-ending

  The athlete, who is the top-ranked female weightlifter in the world, became the first trans sportsperson to represent her country. Not one of the additional lifters, including Australia's Deb Loveley-Acason, acquired everywhere near Hubbard'therefore indicate.
  

  10 April 2018

  LeBron James throws down jam, stares down Sixers

  Programming Note: On Friday, FOX Sports Ohio is airing the Reds - Pirates game (7:00 p.m.) and the Cavs - Sixers game (7:00 p.m.). Philly has won 12 straight games and sit just a half game behind the Wine & Gold in the Eastern Conference Playoff picture.
• 

  12 April 2018

  Attack on Syrian Missile Base Kills 14, including Iranians

  On April 9, officers from the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria visited Douma but did not find any traces of chemical weapons.
  

  12 April 2018

  Andre Ingram, Lakers' 32-year-old Rookie, Dishes in NBA Debut

  From the G League to the Lakers to SportsCenter. "I kept coming back because I genuinely thought I was close ", Ingram said. But that didn't stop Ingram, watched by his wife and kids, enjoying the experience.
  

  10 April 2018

  Apple's global facilities now 100% powered by clean energy

  While impressive that facilities in 43 countries are powered with clean energy, its many suppliers are still working at it. San Francisco: Apple said Monday it had achieved a goal of "100 percent clean energy" for its facilities around the world .
• 

  12 April 2018

  CBO: GOP policies add almost $1.6 trillion to deficit

  The country's cumulative deficit will balloon to $11.7 trillion from 2018 to 2027, $1.6 trillion higher than previous estimates. Yields move in the opposite direction from bond prices, rising when the prices of bonds paying fixed interest rates fall.

  J&K encounter: Army jawan killed, 4 civilians die in ensuing clashes

  Mobile internet services were also suspended in Kulgam and Anantnag districts of South Kashmir following the encounter. They said a gun battle broke out between the militants and security forces in the early hours.
  

  12 April 2018

  Gov. Rick Scott Announces Bid to Unseat Florida's Democratic Senator

  Scott hadn't gone far enough, with the increase in the purchase age representing only the "bare minimum". Saying he had helped turn the state's economy around during his two terms in office, Mr.