Azerbaijan, Baku, 28 July / Trend corr. E.Babayev / The opposition Azerbaijani National Independent Party (ANIP) will not boycott the upcoming presidential elections. "We will participate in the elections as most members of the party vote for participation in the elections," Ali Orujov, Deputy Chairman of ANIP, told Trend on 28 July.
Azerbaijan will host the presidential elections on 15 October. Musavat party has already nominated its Chairman Isa Gambar, Azerbaijan Democratic Party - Sardar Jalaloglu, the Greens Party nominated Mais Gulaliyev, the Popular Front Party of Unified Azerbaijan nominated Gudrat Hasanguliyev and Musair Musavat nominated Hafiz Hajiyev. The head of the public forum For Azerbaijan Eldar Namazov stands for presidency as an independent candidate. The governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) will nominate country's current President Ilham Aliyev. Pro-governmental parties Ana Vatan and Social Prosperity Party intend to support Ilham Aliyev at the elections. Bloc Azadlig uniting three opposition parties (Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Citizen and Development Party, Liberal Party) intends to boycott the elections.
Orujov said that he did not satisfy with the election atmosphere in the coutry. However, Orujov will participate in the elections. "We have several varieties to participate in the elections. We may nominate candidature of Etibar Mammadov, Leader of ANIP, as well as another candidate. We may also support another candidate as well. In any case we oppose against boycott," Orujov said. The meeting of the ANIP Political Council will be held soon to make final decision.
ANIP was the first party received registration in Azerbaijan in 1992. Etibar Mammadov had been the founder and chairman of the party by 2004. Presently, Mammadov is the deputy chairman of the International Democratic Alliance.
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