Protest action against the results of the presidential election of the National Council 2013 year.
Since December 9, Azerbaijan has commenced early presidential elections scheduled for February 7. Notably, only the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) has officially declared its participation, nominating President Ilham Aliyev for his fifth presidential bid, a position he has held since 2003.
Tahir Budagov, Deputy Chairman and Head of the Central Office of NAP, confirmed that the party's Board would soon meet to formally nominate Aliyev as the presidential candidate. While the opposition parties in the country have not yet confirmed their participation, they cite a challenging political climate as a factor influencing their decision.
Seymur Hazi, Deputy Chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), told Azadlig Radio that a decision regarding their involvement in the election process would be made during the upcoming party Congress on December 16. Hazi noted the complexities surrounding this election, pointing to recent arrests of media representatives, civil society figures, and party activists, along with over 200 political prisoners in the country.
The Musavat Party, led by Arif Hajili, also expressed reservations about participation in the current situation. Hajili stated that ongoing discussions and consultations within the party, coupled with public opinion surveys, would play a crucial role in their decision-making process. The party has until January 8 to submit the necessary documents, should they choose to participate.
The ruling NAP remains confident in Aliyev's candidacy, with Elman Nasirov, a member of the party's control and Inspection Commission, told Turan that President Aliyev will run as the sole candidate of the NAP. Nasirov attributed the opposition's hesitancy to the high approval ratings of President Aliyev, particularly in light of recent territorial victories and the liberation of lands from occupation. He suggested that international forecasts indicate Aliyev could receive up to 90 percent of the votes in the upcoming elections.
As consultations continue within opposition parties, the political landscape in Azerbaijan remains tense, with discussions centered around the perceived challenges to a free and fair electoral process. The international community is keenly watching developments as the country prepares for a pivotal electoral period.
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Complaints about a foul gas-like odor persist in the Əhmədli, Günəşli, NZS settlements, and some other areas of Baku. Residents report that the issue has been ongoing for several days.
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On January 23, the weather in Baku will be cloudy. Rain is expected in some areas in the evening and morning; southeast and gusty wind. The air temperature at night will be +6+9°C, and during the day, it will be +9+11°C. Humidity will be 70-80%. Rain will also occur across the country, with heavy rainfall in some areas. Snow is expected in the mountainous regions. Fog will appear in some places; eastward and gusty wind is expected.
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One more child, who was injured in a road accident in Imishli region on 18 January, died in Baku hospital. Despite the efforts of doctors, the life of the minor born in 2015 could not be saved.
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Opposition members detained for critical social media posts were released on the same day, with no reports of mistreatment by authorities, Musavat Party deputy chairman Mustafa Hajibeyli told Turan news agency.
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