Baku protesters demand free elections

As reported by the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), some 10,000 people took part in the rally against the presidential election in Azerbaijan. The protesters have stated that the authorities had initiated early election in order to make them non-alternative.

The rally, organized by the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) and the PFPA and the "Musavat" Party, attracted 10,000 Baku residents, the NCDF has reported. However, according to the estimate of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, the rally was no more than 3500 strong.

Ali Kerimli, the PFPA leader, said that the rally's goal was "to say no to robbery, false elections and monarchy." He has reported that authorities tried to disrupt the action.

According to Mr Kerimli, "over the 15 years of its ruling, Ilham Aliev's government has failed to solve a single country's problem, but only contributed to the growth of poverty."

Arif Gadjily, the head of the "Musavat" Party, criticized the authorities' arguments that "Azerbaijan is not ready for democracy; and if it is given full freedom, it will turn into Afghanistan or Syria."

Djamil Gasanli, the head of the NCDF, called corruption "the main sign of the anti-people nature of the ruling regime."

"Our goal is to return the right to free elections to people... We will continue our actions," he said.