The president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has called a snap presidential election, local media reported. The country was initially set to hold a presidential election in October 17, but his office announced on Monday that an early election would be held in April, six months ahead of schedule. Aliyev’s office did not immediately explain the move.
Ilham Aliyev, who has ruled Azerbaijan since 2003, was earlier nominated as the ruling New Azerbaijan Party’s candidate for the election for what would be his fourth term.
To note, in 2009, Aliyev changed the country’s constitution so that he could run for an unlimited number of presidential terms, in a move criticized by rights advocates and the opposition.