Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. E.Huseynli / The lack of political opposition damages the country, Ayaz Mutallibov, the ex-President of Azerbaijan, said in the interview to Trend new agency on 9 November. The holds of democratic elections do not depend on of opposition able to hold public control, Mutallibov said.
The presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held on 15 October 2008. The Azerbaijani opposition cannot take an active position after the latest parliamentary elections in 2005. The Azadlig bloc, united three opposition parties, the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Liberal and Citizen Development Parties, boycott the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan. The bloc insists on formation of election commissions on parity basis.
The democratic elections depend on will of electorates but not on international observers. "The Azerbaijani population needs in democratic elections, which is the main development factor for the country," Mutallibov added.
Mutallibov said he appealed to the Azerbaijani Internal and Foreign Ministries to receive passport to return to the country.
In 1992 Mutallibov left Azerbaijan to Russia after the Popular Liberation Movement came to power.