Azerbaijan's second opposition party boycotts snap elections
Azerbaijan’s Musavat Party, a prominent opposition group, has announced that it will follow suit of the National Council of Democratic Forces to boycott the snap presidential elections in April.
Musavat head Arif Hacili said Saturday that his party would not participate in the elections, which have seen a recent change of schedule by the government.
Hacili had denounced Baku’s announcement earlier this week that the elections, originally slated for October 17, would be brought forward to April 11. The opposition leader said the move was a ploy to prolong the rule of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev.
He said on Tuesday, a day after the government's announcement was made, that Aliyev was seeking to prevent the opposition from properly preparing for the elections. He said the change in the date of the vote was “an operation to prolong Aliyev's rule for another seven years.”
The Musavat leader also hinted at some internal disputes in the government, saying they also played a role in the change of the elections' schedule.
Presidential adviser Ali Hasanov has said that the elections had been brought forward to prevent it from interfering with “important domestic and international events”. Hasanov said the decision was in line with Azerbaijan's constitution and the country's Electoral Code.
Azerbaijan under Aliev is well-known for its lack of tolerance for dissent and its tough way of dealing with political opposition. Aliev has ruled Azerbaijan since 2003. The opposition designates his re-elections in 2008 and 2013 as the result of rigged votes. Aliev’s father, Heydar, a former KGB officer, had also ruled Azerbaijan with an iron fist since 1993.
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