The 2013 Azerbaijani presidential election was held on 9 October 2013 to elect the President of Azerbaijan for a five‑year term. Incumbent President Ilham Aliyev, representing the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), ran for re‑election. The election was contested by four other candidates:
| Candidate | Party/Movement | Vote share |
|---|---|---|
| Ilham Aliyev | New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) | 84.5 % |
| Hafiz Hajiyev | Independent | 5.5 % |
| Zaur Gurbanov | Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) | 5.2 % |
| Jamil Hasanov | Independent | 1.8 % |
| Ali Aydın | Independent | 0.8 % |
Results and turnout
According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), voter turnout was reported at 71.5 %. Ilham Aliyev was declared the winner with 84.54 % of the vote, securing a second consecutive term.
Electoral context
- The election followed constitutional amendments adopted in 2009 that removed term limits for the presidency, allowing Aliyev to seek a second full term.
- Early voting was permitted from 28 September to 7 October 2013.
Domestic and international observation
- The Organization for Security and Co‑operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) sent a limited monitoring mission. Their final report noted “numerous irregularities” and “significant shortcomings” in the electoral process, including restrictions on freedom of assembly, limited access for opposition candidates to media, and concerns about the integrity of the vote‑counting procedure.
- The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) observer mission declared the election “transparent, competitive and democratic,” a stance that contrasted with the OSCE’s assessment.
Legal challenges
Opposition candidates filed complaints with the CEC and the Constitutional Court alleging violations of election law, including allegations of ballot stuffing and misuse of state resources. The courts rejected these complaints, and no legal changes to the results were made.
Aftermath
Ilham Aliyev was inaugurated for his second term on 24 October 2013. The election reinforced the dominance of the New Azerbaijan Party in Azerbaijani politics. International human‑rights organizations continued to criticize Azerbaijan’s political environment, citing the 2013 election as part of a broader pattern of electoral irregularities and restricted political freedoms.
