Azerbaijani Presidential Election Set For October 9

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has held power since 2003, after succeeding his father.

Azerbaijan will hold its presidential election on October 9.

The election date was announced on August 2 by the head of the Central Election Commission.

President Ilham Aliyev is running for an unprecedented third five-year term. Aliyev has held power since 2003, after succeeding his father.

In 2009, a constitutional amendment removed a two-term limit for holding the presidency.

Aliyev was nominated by the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.

Azerbaijan's opposition and human rights activists have accused Aliyev of nepotism, concentrating the country's wealth and resources in the hands of his family, and systematically abusing citizens' rights.

Azerbaijan's political opposition groups have united to nominate a single candidate.

Prominent screenwriter Rustam Ibragimbekov was chosen last month to represent the opposition at a session of the National Council of Democratic Forces.

With reporting by ITAR-TASS