"The final number of officially registered candidates for the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan amounted to 10 candidates. Pre-election agitation started last week and registered candidates, their plenipotentiary representatives as well as political parties, whose candidates have been registered, blocks of political parties and their representatives can conduct their election campaign from September 16 to October 8.
In the light of that Azerbaijan`s main opposition coalition - the National Council of Democratic Forces - has held a sanctioned rally in Baku to boost support ahead of the country`s October 9 presidential election.
Ilham Aliyev`s challengers faces uphill struggle to rally voters. According to the media sources some 1 500 supporters gathered on September 22 at a stadium in the Yasamal district of the capital.
Initial polling by the independent sources shows that none of the candidates who intend to participate in the presidential elections in Azerbaijan are serious alternatives to President Ilham Aliyev. Resent polling demonstrated, that up to 81.2% of Azerbaijani citizens are ready to vote for the country`s incumbent President Ilham Aliyev, while candidates representing the country`s opposition could count for less than 4% of votes.
The Azerbaijani government has said it will “guarantee” political rights, fair and free elections in October and will put in place the necessary mechanisms, including necessary regulations to law enforcement bodies in order to avoid incidents and guarantee free and fair elections".
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