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500 servicemen were recruited for extended service in the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan over the last few months, said a source preferring not to give his name, reports Azerbaijani news agency "Faktheber".

"The information says that employment of so many servicemen at once is aimed at preventing mass protests at the coming presidential elections in the country," the agency says.

The source also informed that military contract is signed with the Azerbaijani servicemen for a period of 3-5 years. Their salary will make 410 manats (about 410 euros).

Note that in July 2013 the head of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan Sardar Jalaloglu, noted that Ilham Aliyev’s statements show that he is not the president of all the Azerbaijanis, and is props up only on a small amount of people in uniforms, who are ready to defend their interests.

The presidential elections are scheduled in Azerbaijan on 9 October 2013. The previous presidential elections were held on 15 October 2008. The current president Ilham Aliyev is on this position for two terms already - since 2003. In March 2009 a referendum on making amendments to the Constitution was held in Azerbaijan, which repealed the restriction on one person remaining in office for more than two consecutive terms. The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe stated in this regard, "Giving one person the right to be repeatedly elected to the presidency is seen as a step backwards in the development of democracy."

Opposition has put forward its own candidate - the famous screenwriter Rustam Ibrahimbekov. And on 24 August professor of history Jamil Hasanli was elected as a backup single candidate for presidency by the National Council of Azerbaijan. Another presidential candidate Ilham Mammedov is in jail.

Since the beginning of the year series of mass protests were held in Azerbaijan which the authorities were forced to disperse by the internal forces. The most serious clashes took place in January 2013 in the city of Ismaili, located in the north of the country. Protests were also held by the "Bina", shopping centre employees in January in Baku etc. Two major protests were held in Baku because of numerous deaths of soldiers in the Azerbaijani army. These protests were also dispersed. The first protest was held on January 12, and the second one - on March 10.