28 January 2005, 23:35
Arrested opposition leader nominated for election
Chair of the Umid (Hope) party Igbal Agazade, who is imprisoned now, may be at the head of the party list of this opposition party in the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, a source in the Umid party reported. Altogether 17 members of the Umid party are put on the list of candidates for the Azerbaijan parliament. It is worth reminding that Mr Agazade was elected member of the parliament for the Umid party earlier, but was unseated after the developments of October 15-16, 2003 and sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment on charges of organizing mass riots with the purpose of changing results of the presidential election in favor of his candidate.
Mubariz Gurbanly, a member of the political council of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party, has commented on this announcement. The election of Igbal Agazade for the parliament by the party list seems to be problematic because there is no proportional election system in Azerbaijan, he said.
Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent
