REAL pushes Ilgar Mamedov as presidential candidate

The head of REAL (Republican Alternative) Ilgar Mamedov will be a candidate in the presidential election this fall, said at a press conference at the Media Centre the Executive Secretary of the structure Natig Jafarli.

REAL intends to secure the release from custody of Ilgar Mamedov and start his election campaign, he said.

The Chairman of the Majlis of REAL - Erkin Gadirli said that the arrests of Yagublu and Mamedov did not differ from previous arrests of the opposition, as part of general repression.

"The suppression of the protests of the population is accompanied by violence, but citizens do not have fear. Therefore, the arrest of Mamedov and Yagublu are losing importance and no one is afraid," he said.

Soon REAL will announce its electoral program and urge the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the EU, and the European Parliament not to participate in the political games in Azerbaijan and not to turn the election into a subject of trade.

He confirmed that REAL will nominate Ilgar Mammadov a presidential candidate.

Another member of the public organization - Altai Geyushev noted that arrest of Ilgar Mamedov was expected. "We are not afraid of these processes and will soon make public our plan in the current environment," he said.

According to the expert Zohrab Ismail, the arrest of Mamedov and Yagublu aims to divert public attention from the events in Ismayilli. "We will be prepared for serious protest on political prisoners and prisoners of conscience," said Ismail.

Representatives of the party Musavat, Tural Abbasli, and Umid, Anvar Aghazadeh feel the need to join forces for the release of those arrested and in joint protest. They condemned the aggression of the authorities during the recent protests, including the use of rubber bullets and tear gas.

According to the lawyer Khalid Baghirov, who protects Ilgar Mammadov’s rights, the arrest of his client is unfounded. "The investigators believe that Mamedov might abscond or put pressure on the witnesses. What nonsense!" he said.

The Director of Turan News Agency Mehman Aliyev believes that the authorities are trying to arrange a sort of Syria in Azerbaijan, leading to confrontation and destructive processes. -16C-