What is the current political situation in Azerbaijan?
Political life is very much influenced by upcoming presidential elections that are scheduled to be held in October 2003. These elections are of extreme importance to Azerbaijan because they will not only determine who will be president for the next 5 years but also Azerbaijan’s political future and long-term orientation. At this moment, one could say there is no real dictatorship in Azerbaijan, but there is also no true democracy. On one side are democratic forcespeople, political parties, and NGOsthat are fighting for democracy, and on the other there are those who want to strengthen the authoritarian regime. I hope that the alliance of democratic forces will achieve its goal. Whatever happens, many things will be clear by the end of the year. What are you expecting? We have a hard road in front of us, full of difficulties, but in the end I have no doubt that democracy will win in Azerbaijan. People are tired of the current government and don’t want to continue as before. That is why
