Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis has re-elected Sabina Aliyeva as the country’s Human Rights Commissioner, or ombudsman, in a parliamentary vote. She secured 100 votes, well ahead of her two rivals.
In the vote, the other two candidates, Jeyhun Garajayev and Elshana Valiyeva, received 13 and 8 votes respectively. A candidate needed a majority of 83 votes in parliament to be elected ombudsman.
After the results were announced, Sabina Aliyeva was sworn in as ombudsman.
The candidacies had earlier been submitted to the Milli Majlis for consideration by President Ilham Aliyev. According to the submitted document, the three candidates were Sabina Aliyeva, daughter of Yashar; Jeyhun Garajayev, son of Yasinali; and Elshana Valiyeva, daughter of Rafig.
How the election process works
Under Azerbaijan’s law “On the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” the commissioner is elected for a seven-year term. Thirty days before the term expires, the president submits three candidates to the Milli Majlis, which must decide within 15 days. The law bars the same person from being elected ombudsman more than twice.
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