BAKU (AA) - Over a thousand election observers are flying in to Azerbaijan's capital Baku to monitor presidential elections to be held October 9th.
Ilham Aliyev came to power in 2003, the elections were accompanied by mass protests and accusations of vote-rigging.
Aliyev is the son of late Heydar Aliyev, who was Azerbaijan's president from 1993-2003, and he is widely expected to win next Wednesday.
Holding a press conference regarding the elections, Azerbaijani Election Commission Chairman, Mezahir Penahov elaborated on the busy efforts only a few days ahead of the elections.
He stated that all departments of the Election Commission are on alert for the presidential elections to run smoothly and transparently, as the preparations have yet to be completed.
Penahov pointed out that 5.1 million voters could cast their votes in 5,491 polls, adding that Azerbaijani expats would be able to go to the polls in Azerbaijani embassies.
Citing his contact with Saudi Arabian authorities for enabling Azerbaijani people performing the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj to vote, he argued that certain foreign countries along with international institutions admired the election preparations in Azerbaijan.
"The elections will be closely monitored by 1,300 observers from around 100 different world countries," he added.
The 10 approved candidates who will run for presidency in the October 9 polls include opposition National Council of Democratic Forces (NSDS) nominee Jamil Hasanli, Umid (Hope) Party Chairman Iqbal Agazade, People's Front of United Azerbaijan Chairman Qudrat Hasanquliyev, Justice Party Chairman and former Azerbaijan SSR Prosecutor-General Ilyas Ismayilov, National Revival Movement leader Farac Quliyev, independent candidate Zahid Oruc, as well as the chairmen of three extra-parliamentary parties: Araz Alizadev from the Social Democratic Party, Hafiz Haciyev from Modern Musavat, and Sardar Celaloglu from Democratic Party of Azerbaijan.
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