阿塞拜疆總統勝選將繼續第四個任期

Azerbaijan's longtime president, Ilham Aliyev, won a fourth term Wednesday in an election boycotted by the opposition.

European election monitors plan to issue their report Thursday.

Wednesday's election was originally scheduled for October but was moved up to avoid clashing with several other high-profile events.

Aliyev was elected in 2003, taking over from his ailing father, Heydar Aliyev, who had been Azerbaijan's president for 10 years.

Ilham Aliyev changed the constitution twice through referendums, allowing him to cement his power.

Oil riches have allowed Azerbaijan to thrive since its post-Soviet independence. But the global collapse in energy prices has put a strain on the economy.

The opposition said Aliyev has no tolerance for dissent and is guilty of human rights violations.在阿塞拜疆長期執政的阿利耶夫總統星期三再次贏得連任選舉，這將是他的第四個任期。反對黨抵制了這次投票。

選舉官員說，預計阿利耶夫贏得了86%的選票。他們還說，沒有收到任何舞弊的投訴。不過，一些反對派人士說，有的選民多次投票。

歐盟的選舉觀察員計劃星期四公佈他們的報告。

星期三的投票原定10月舉行，但是由於與其它幾項重大活動的日期衝突，所以提前進行。

阿利耶夫2003年當選總統，接替他體弱多病的父親，擔任了10年總統的老阿利耶夫。

阿利耶夫就任總統後，兩次經過全民公投修改憲法，允許他長期執政。

阿塞拜疆從前蘇聯獨立之後，石油收入促使其經濟繁榮發展，但是全球能源價格的下跌導致了經濟困難。

反對派說，阿利耶夫絲毫不容忍不同政見，侵犯人權。