November 22, 2010
BAKU -- Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission has approved the final results of the November 7 parliamentary elections and sent them to the Constitutional Court for endorsement, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

The Central Election Commission annulled the results from 28 polling stations, which did not affect the outcome in any of the 125 constituencies.

The commission has 18 members, six from the ruling Yeni Azerbaycan Party (YAP), six selected from among independent parliament deputies, and six representing minority parliamentary parties.

Gulaga Aslanli from the opposition Musavat Party was the only commission member who voted against the decision approving the results. Akif Qurbanli from the opposition Umid Party abstained.

Commission Chairman Mazahir Panahov praised the organization and holding of the elections, noting "incomparable progress" with previous elections.

"The November 7 parliamentary elections were historic," he said. "The elections were organized at a high level and were held in a normal atmosphere."

According to the official results, the YAP won 72 seats, independent candidates garnered 41 seats, and pseudo-opposition parties received 12.

The main opposition parties, Musavat and the Azerbaijan Popular Front, have refused to recognize the election results and have called for a new vote to be held.

The OSCE International Observation Mission, the United States, and other Western countries criticized the vote as not meeting international standards.