Watch the reaction during a press conference against international observers
The reaction erupted during the first minutes of the press statement by the international observers from the PACE and OSCE, ODIHR. As one of the representatives read, "the early presidential election in Azerbaijan took place within a restrictive political environment and under laws that curtail fundamental rights and freedoms, which are prerequisites for genuine democratic elections. Against this backdrop and in the absence of pluralism, including in the media, the election lacked genuine competition".
Responding to the preliminary report, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said they considered the results subjective. The head of the media relations at the MFA, Hikmat Hajiyev in a statement to local media said: "In the report, the observers concluded that the elections took place in the limited political environment, which is absolutely unfounded. All necessary environment was made available ahead of the election for all registered presidential candidates to carry out their campaigns", said Hajiyev.
Hajiyev reiterated that media is absolutely free in Azerbaijan.
Hajiyev also requested that the OSCE ODIHR provides evidence for lack of transparency and other violations on the election day.
Ilham Aliyev: "This was the nation's conscious choice"
Addressing the crowd gathered outside the Haydar Aliyev Center in Baku, President Ilham Aliyev said, "I have always felt the support of the Azerbaijani nation. I have also always relied on this support. This support is an integral part of my work. I have always tried, to serve the nation faithfully and with dignity".
The president also said, "The Azerbaijani nation made its choice in this election. The people once again voted for our policy, stability, development, and progress".
The president noted that the election that took place in free, transparent and just way reflects the will of the nation. And that there is no other country in the world that has shown the same economic development in the last 15 years as much as Azerbaijan.