Azerbaijan leader Ilkham Aliyev has claimed victory in presidential polls , thanks to the Azeri people for electing him to a third term . With about three - quarters of the votes counted Mr Aliyev has gained nearly 85 % , the national election commission. The president called the election a " victory of democracy " , but opposition groups alleged widespread fraud . Mr Aliyev inherited the presidency from his father in 2003 . It has stifled disagree and scrapped term limits . So confident was the victory on Wednesday , he did not run a campaign .
"Azerbaijan will successfully continue to develop as a democracy", Mr. Aliyev said in a pre-recorded television address . "The fact that this election was free and transparent is another serious step towards democracy . "
