Azeri hopeful pulls out of Georgia election race
An Azerbaijani running for presidency in Georgia has withdrawn his
candidacy.
Fazil Aliyev did not disclose the reasons for the move but said he wanted to see a Georgian as the country's president.
Aliyev did not show any signs of disappointment. "We have accomplished our goal and succeeded in proving that we are capable of standing in the poll."
He made it clear that his withdrawal from the election race had no bearing on the recent arrest of Dashgyn Gulmammadov who had headed his election headquarters.
Gulmammadov was arrested on November 27 on charges of inciting ethnic discrimination. A Tbilisi court had ordered two months in detention pending trial. But he was released based on feedback provided by Georgia's prosecutor-general after spending a week in detention.
The Georgian electoral body is expected to complete the admision of ballot papers by the weekend. On December 12, the Central Election Commission is to announce the candidates running for the January 5 election.
An Azerbaijani was to stand in Georgia's presidential election for the first time in the country's history. He was expected to rally the support of the entire Muslim electorate in the neighboring South Caucasus republic.
About 500,000 Azerbaijanis reside in Georgia, according to informal reports.
Fazil Aliyev did not disclose the reasons for the move but said he wanted to see a Georgian as the country's president.
Aliyev did not show any signs of disappointment. "We have accomplished our goal and succeeded in proving that we are capable of standing in the poll."
He made it clear that his withdrawal from the election race had no bearing on the recent arrest of Dashgyn Gulmammadov who had headed his election headquarters.
Gulmammadov was arrested on November 27 on charges of inciting ethnic discrimination. A Tbilisi court had ordered two months in detention pending trial. But he was released based on feedback provided by Georgia's prosecutor-general after spending a week in detention.
The Georgian electoral body is expected to complete the admision of ballot papers by the weekend. On December 12, the Central Election Commission is to announce the candidates running for the January 5 election.
An Azerbaijani was to stand in Georgia's presidential election for the first time in the country's history. He was expected to rally the support of the entire Muslim electorate in the neighboring South Caucasus republic.
About 500,000 Azerbaijanis reside in Georgia, according to informal reports.
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