"Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev Secures Fifth Term Amid Criticism and Irregularities"

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has won a fifth consecutive term with over 92% of the vote, amid criticism from international observers who say there was no meaningful challenger and the election lacked genuine pluralism. The main rival parties boycotted the election, and opposition leaders have called it an "imitation of democracy". The election was called early after Azerbaijan's successful military campaign in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, and Aliyev's popularity surged. Critics argue that freedom of assembly is restricted, media is under government pressure, and political dissent is being suppressed in the country.