Your trusted source

The recent speech by Ilham Aliyev with harsh accusations against the opposition is a gross violation of constitutional norms and obligations, as head of state, stated the single presidential candidate of the National Council, Rustam Ibrahimbekov, commenting on the July 2 speech by Aliyev at the Police Academy.

As the Azerbaijani information agency Turan reports, Mr. Ibrahimbekov has noted, “Calling his opponents renegades, traitors and enemy elements, Aliyev not only offends people. He also makes it clear to all the people that dealing with his opponents is also tantamount to treason. It's not just pressure on voters, but also moral repression.”

He expressed surprise that many of the media, civil society and political forces have not given appropriate evaluation to such statements. "Instead, I am asked to comment on the materials of two or three venal hacks," said the playwright, and noted that there are two or three people who write about him not just bad things, but things, “for which they should be normally hit in the face.”

In conclusion, he said that he gave up his Russian passport. "Azerbaijan's Electoral Code requires that a presidential candidate cannot have dual citizenship and therefore obligations to other countries," said the playwright.

It should be noted that on 2 June 2013 the National Council of Democratic Forces NCDF issued a statement pointing out the illegitimacy of Ilham Aliyev’s nomination for the position of the President of Azerbaijani for the third time. According to the Azerbaijani agency "Turan" in the address of the attendees of the NCDF session to Parliament, to the Attorney General and the CEC of Azerbaijan was stated that the whole world is talking about harmfulness of presidency that is taken by one and the same person for more than twice, and about the ways of overcoming this tradition. On this background, Ilham Aliyev’s illegal desire to become President for the third time is a challenge to the authoritarian democratic order.

The appeal reads that in the course of the falsified referendum in 2009, restrictions for the term of presidency of the same person, were removed from the Constitution of Azerbaijan. However, according to the principle of the rule of law, the law is not retroactive, and this norm is not applied to Aliyev. If Aliyev still intends to run for presidency, he should disclose details of the companies owned by him and members of his family, and their tax payments in Azerbaijan and abroad, the appeal reads.

If this information is not disclosed and the "purity" of Aliyev clan business is not proved then his candidacy would not be registered. NCDF proposes to create an independent commission to investigate the president’s business.

To remind us, on the 28th late evening an agreement has been reached between the leading opposition powers of Azerbaijan to create a new structure- National Council. During the meeting, representatives of the following parties were present: “Open Society”, “Liberal Party”, “National Frontier”; “Classic” national frontier, “EL” movement and “Musavat” movement. Remotely, among those who joined the discussions were the famous screen writer Rustam Ibrahimov, ex-speaker of parliament of Azerbaijan Rasul Guliev, Mirmahmud Miralioglu and Lala Shovket.

More than 130 politicians, civil society activists and representatives of intellectuals were included in the National Council of Democratic powers. R. Ibrahimbekov was elected initially the head of the National Council, and later was selected as the candidate for Azerbaijan’s president in the upcoming elections in October. The leading party “Yeni Azerbaijan” during the congress on the 7th of July suggested the candidate of the incumbent Ilham Aliev. The eclections for Azerbajan’s president will be held n 16th Octoober 2013.