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Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, who held the post since 1995 was dismissed by the decree of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Zakir Hasanov has been appointed on his place. The latter has been the commander of internal troops of the Interior Ministry to present, the Azerbaijani news agency "Turan" reports.

According to the report, by the other decree of the Azerbaijani President, the Minister of Agriculture Ismet Abbasov has been appointed a deputy prime minister. Heydar Asadov has been appointed on his place. Another deputy prime minister was Ali Akhmedov, who has been the executive secretary of the ruling party "Yeni Azerbaijan" until now.

Minister of Social Welfare Fizuli Alekperov has also been dismissed of his post. Salim Muslumov has been appointed in his place. The latter had previously headed the Pension Fund.

By another decree of Ilham Aliyev the new Cabinet staff of Azerbaijan has been approved of, says the agency.
On October 9 presidential election were held in Azerbaijan during which incumbent President Ilham Aliyev received 84.54% of votes. Jamil Hasanli, a single candidate from the opposition National Council of Democratic Forces, was on the second place. He scored 5.53% of the vote.

The joint statement of the ODIHR / OSCE observation mission and the Parliamentary Assembly, noted that the presidential elections were held in Azerbaijan in terms of restriction of freedom of speech and assembly. In its turn, the Minister for European Affairs David Lidington stated that the British Foreign Ministry shares the OSCE / ODIHR’s opinion that the presidential elections held in Azerbaijan failed to meet the commitments with OSCE. Opinion of the OSCE and the United Kingdom are also divided the U.S. Department of State.