Russian experts discuss coming presidential elections in Azerbaijan

Presidential elections in Azerbaijan are expected to be held in four weeks. Seven people have already been registered as presidential candidates.

They are incumbent president Ilham Aliyev (nominated by the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party), lawmakers Igbal Agazade (from the Umid party) and Zakhir Orudzh (independent candidate), Gudrat Gasanguliyev (leader of the Party of the United People's Front of Azerbaijan), Khafiz Gadzhiyev (from the Modern Musavat party), Araz Alizade (chairman of the Social Democratic Party), and Faradzh Guliyev (chairman of the National Revival Party).

13 more candidates (including 8 independents) are awaiting official registration.

Vestnik Kavkaza discussed the elections with Russian experts.

"I believe Russia will support Ilham Alieyv. He is the best candidate to deal with for Russia. He is well-known here. He simply has no real competitor," member of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute for Central Asia and Caucasus Alexander Skakov says.

According to analyst Leonid Mlechin, Russia's relations with Azerbaijan have always been very friendly and the victory of Aliyev will only strengthen bilateral ties.

Another expert, Sergey Markov, also believes that Russia is interested in Aliyev's victory. There is no actual alternative anyway, he says.