Initiative on Nomination of Mehriban Aliyeva as Presidential Candidate Withdrawn?

Alisahib Huseynov, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic World Party, who a month ago took the initiative of nominating Mehriban Aliyeva as a candidate for the presidency of the country's First Lady, has denied reports of his arrest by the police.

"No, I have not been detained and I will never  be detained. For I am a man devoted to Azerbaijani statehood and to the course of the national leader Heydar Aliyev," Huseynov said in an interview with Turan, calling media reports of his arrest" fabrications. "

On the question whether the position of the party remains on Aliyeva's candidature in the presidential election, Huseynov said that "everything has its time."

"When the time comes, our party will take a decision on the nomination of a candidate," said Huseynov.

In turn, the deputy chairman of the party, Rauf Guliyev, said a formal decision on the presidential candidate has not been accepted. "We received indications from approximately 15 local organizations that our presidential candidate should be Mehriban Aliyeva. This initiative was discussed in the party on June 15 and was announced in the media.

However, a formal decision on the party candidate will be made after the official start of the election campaign. In accordance with the charter, the decision will be taken either by the Congress or at a meeting of the Political Council," Guliyev said.

On the question of whether Mehriban Aliyeva cannot be a candidate, but anyone else can, Guliyev said, "I do not want to jump the gun. The decision will be made collectively. We are a pro-government party, naturally our candidate can also be Ilham Aliyev. "

It should be noted that during the day on July 25, many local media reported on the detention of Huseynov allegedly because of  the "initiative" with the nomination Aliyeva.

The initiative was perceived very negatively by the ruling party, Newi Azerbaijan and was seen as a "provocation aimed at splitting the power elite." -06B-