France, Strasburg, 29 September / Trend / corr. I.Alizade, A.Maherremli / The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) believes that the presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held in accordance with the principles of the Council of Europe. "We call upon the Government of Azerbaijan to follow the reports of the Council of Europe and therefore, I hope that the process of freeing prisoners will be continuing, the democracy will be fully established and the upcoming presidential elections will be held in accordance with the principles of the Council of Europe," Luise Maria de Puch, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said to press conference in Strasburg on 29 September.
Presidential elections will take place in Azerbaijan on 15 October. Seven contenders will participate - the chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party Ilham Aliyev, chairman of the Umid Party Igbal Agazade, chairman of the Great Establishment Party Fazil Gazanfaroglu, chairman of the Muasir Musavat party Hafiz Hajiyev, the chairman of the Unified Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Gudrat Hasanguliyev, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Azerbaijan Fuad Aliyev and independent candidate Gulamhuseyn Alibayli.
PACE autumn session commenced in Strasburg on 29 September.
The PACE President said that he visited Azerbaijan this summer. "During this visit, I asked the State Head, Primer Minister and all relating structures to fulfill the reports of the Council of Europe. The PACE studied the situation with the democracy and made certain requirements to free politicians, journalists. Even I received a guarantee from the State Head regarding solution of these issues. Recently I was informed that 80 prisoners were freed," the PACE President said.
The correspondent can be contacted at: [email protected]