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On August 18 the eve of the rally of oppositionist National Council of Azerbaijan the authorities of the republic continue the crackdown of the oppositionists, reports Azerbaijani portal "Haqqin.az."

It is noted that this morning in Gadabay region of Azerbaijan members of the Classic Popular Front Party Jeykhun Safarov, Sayaf Musayev and Telman Alekperov were arrested. Police arrested them directly on the local bus station, from where they were going to go to Baku to attend the rally.

As the portal notes, on the eve of Azerbaijan three other oppositionists were arrested: a member of the youth organization of the Azerbaijani opposition Popular Front Party (PFP) Mahammad Imanly, an activist of the same party Tehran Musayev and Advisor to the Chairman of the Popular Front Party Ali Kerimli Mamed Ibrahimli. According to the site, Mamed Imanly was arrested for anti-governmental appeals in social networks, and the distribution of leaflets. He was arrested for 5 days.

"In PFP believe that on the eve of the meeting of National Council the authorities have launched a new wave of repression against the opposition," wrote "Haqqn.az."

It should be noted that the meeting of the Azerbaijani National Council of opposition is scheduled for Sunday, on the 18th of August.

"It is possible that in the next two days the number of arrested opposition will grow. The authorities will do anything to disrupt the planned rally, but they will fail", said the press service of the Popular Front.

Presidential elections in Azerbaijan are planned to be held on October 9. The National Council of opposition has put forward its own candidate - screenwriter Rustam Ibrahimbekov. Earlier, Azerbaijani media reported that on his return to Azerbaijan Ibrahimbekov will be arrested. Recall also that Rustam Ibrahimbekov refused Russian citizenship in order to be a candidate in the presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Another potential candidate for president, the leader of the civil movement "Republican Alternative” (REAL) Ilgar Mamedov is in prison.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has also presented his candidacy: he is going for a third presidential term.