Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission (CEC) has registered six more candidates for the upcoming presidential election, bringing the number of officially registered hopefuls to nine.

The registered presidential candidates are: chairman of the United Popular Front Party Gudrat Hasanguliyev, Modern Musavat party leader Hafiz Hajiyev, Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party chairman Araz Alizade, National Revival Party leader Faraj Guliyev, chairman of the Adalat (Justice) party Ilyas Ismayilov as well as Jamil Hasanli from the opposition National Council.

Earlier, chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, President Ilham Aliyev, Umid Party leader Igbal Aghazade and self-nominated candidate Zahid Oruj were registered by the senior electoral body.

During the meeting held on September 11 CEC head Mazahir Panahov said that the PACE observation mission divided into 15 groups will cover all electoral districts.

He also called on mass media representatives to actively cover the electoral process.

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, initiative groups of electors, political parties and blocs of political parties are entitled to nominating candidates.

According to the electoral law, the official election campaign will begin 23 days before the election. It will take place from September 16 until 18:00 on October 8.

The campaign materials will be placed in the area of each polling station.

Free airtime and space for publications will be allocated for registered presidential candidates as part of the pre-election campaign.

In accordance with the Electoral Code, polling stations have been set up in the diplomatic missions and consulates of Azerbaijan.

Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) Elmira Suleymanova said on September 11 that interference of executive officials and the police with the electoral process would be inadmissible.

Speaking at the training organized on the eve of the presidential elections in Azerbaijan on the initiative of the Ombudsman and upon consent of the CEC, Suleymanova also noted that officials of the Ombudsman's Office observed the previous presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections where they gained relevant experience.

According to Suleymanova, during meetings with citizens, public awareness work on voting rights has been carried out.

As in the previous elections, she and officials of the Ombudsman's Office will act as observers at the October 9 elections, she said.

Suleymanova went on to say that it is important to expand enlightenment work in the area of electoral rights in the capital city and the regions on the eve of the presidential elections as this plays a significant role in the pre-election campaign.

According to her, it is important to provide citizens with identity cards on time, to improve the electoral lists and the activity of members of the district and local electoral commissions.

Suleymanova told journalists that the Ombudsman's Office has not received any complaints regarding violations related to the pre-election process in Azerbaijan. Her office hasn't received any complaints pertaining to the nomination of candidates, signature collection campaigns, the process of registration of candidates, etc.

Earlier head of the Observation Mission from the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Leonid Slutsky said that the presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held in accordance with the universal democratic standards.

According to him, Azerbaijan has always taken very seriously the organization of both parliamentary and presidential election campaigns.