Azernews.Az

A senior Azerbaijani official has said "no one is capable" of staging disturbances in the country similar to the turmoil that followed Armenia's February 19 presidential poll.
Armenian opposition had refused to recognize the results of the election, charging vote rigging. The mass protests that followed were quelled on March 1. Some statements later cited potential repetition of the developments in Azerbaijan.
"No one has the power to stage turmoil that took place in Armenia here," the President's Office Chief-of-Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev told reporters on Tuesday. "Stability reigns in Azerbaijan. Fully open, transparent and democratic presidential elections will be held in the country [in October].
Mehdiyev expressed confidence that the incumbent head of state will be elected for a second term. "It is beyond a shadow of doubt that the people stand by President Ilham Aliyev. He will be re-elected by landslide."
Commenting on some opposition parties' boycott of the upcoming election, the top presidential aide said: "Whether or not anyone wants to boycott the election is their own business. Azerbaijan will hold a transparent vote, while participating in such an election is everyone's own business and problem."
The opposition claims that a democratic election cannot be held without amending the current Election Code.
Mehdiyev also dismissed as false the statements on banning the opposition's protests.
The opposition is reportedly planning to hold public protests soon. Some international groups maintain that the right to assemble freely is being restricted in Azerbaijan.
Mehdiyev said the opposition was at liberty to conduct rallies but their goals were rather unclear. "If they have such plans and at the same time, are able to bring together their supporters, they may go ahead. But the purpose of such rallies is hard to understand, i.e. what are the reasons for them? Why are they trying to pose obstacles for the serene life of the people?"