Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission (CEC) has approved the candidacy of self-nominated candidate Ilgar Mammadov for the upcoming presidential elections.

The authorized representatives of Mammadov were registered as well.

During the CEC meeting held on August 27 under the chairmanship of CEC head Mazahir Panahov, member of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, MP Aydin Mirzazade was approved as the consultant of the ruling party with the voting right.

Panahov said that two more candidates - self-nominated Rauf Guliyev and Ibrahim Rustambayli - have submitted their documents to the senior electoral body.

He went on to say that Nijat Alnisa, who earlier submitted his documents to the CEC, has retracted his documents.

Earlier, the documents of 18 candidates for participation in the October 9 presidential elections were presented to the CEC, which has approved the candidacies of 16 people.

Furthermore, the CEC has denied the registration of the candidacy of Rustam Ibrahimbayov.

CEC secretary Arifa Mukhtarova said during the mentioned CEC meeting that the documents of Ibrahimbayov submitted to the election commission were examined and it was decided that approval of his candidacy is impossible.

It was revealed that Ibrahimbayov has dual (Russian and Azerbaijani) citizenship, Mukhtarova said.

She said further that over ten years Ibrahimbayov has lived in Azerbaijan for only 1,163 days and he has obligations before Russia.

The legitimacy of the CEC decision on the candidacy of Ibrahimbayov is beyond a doubt, CEC deputy chairman Natig Mammadov told Trend news agency on August 27.

"We have made an official decision and its legality raises no doubt," he said.

According to him, everything regarding this decision was clearly explained from the viewpoint of logic and legislation.

According to the Constitution, the president of Azerbaijan is elected for a five-year term through general, direct and equal elections, by free, private and secret voting.

Azerbaijani citizens who have the right of election, an initiative group of electors, political parties and blocs of political parties are entitled to nominating candidates.