Political scientist: Aliyev`s decision to hold early elections is based on the latter`s desire not to allow the opposition to prepare for the upcoming elections

ArmInfo. Since the opposition has recently raised its head in Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, initiating early elections, is trying to catch the opposition representatives unawares, without giving them the opportunity to properly prepare for the election campaign.

This February 14 at a press conference said the director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Ruben Safrastyan. According to Safrastyan, Aliyev is currently trying to tense the situation and direct all the hatred of the residents of Azerbaijan against an external enemy, that is, against Armenia. Aliyev's last statement "on the return of Yerevan," according to the political scientist, was made solely for the purpose of raising the rating of the latter in the presidential elections. At the same time, the expert did not exclude the possibility that certain provocations on the border are possible during the pre-election period. "In fact, the aggressive rhetoric of Azerbaijan, from time to time, is reflected in such large-scale military actions as the April war, so it is possible that before the elections, the authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan may try to carry out another provocation at the border with the aim of raising the rating of the current president, - the expert noted. Also, according to the political scientist, there is a constant tension in the country in connection with the struggle of clans in the elite. "Apart from the issue of power that periodically arises between the ruling clans in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the division of profits from the sale of oil and gas also plays a significant role, too often the clan does not suit the clan, which leads to a bitter struggle, and at the moment the situation relatively calm, and Aliyev decided to hold the elections as soon as possible, "Safrastyan said. The political scientist also noted the fact that Aliyev is always trying to attack the peacekeeping activities of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. "It's not that Azerbaijan wants to get out of the negotiation process, in fact, the problem is much deeper." After the presidential elections, Azerbaijan will try to increase pressure on the representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group in order to achieve certain privileges in the negotiation process and raise image of President Aliyev, "the expert concluded.