Russian President Putin's visit to Baku was a certain support to Aliyev on the threshold of the presidential election in Azerbaijan, which is an important factor. Obviously, it depends on Putin how soon Rustam Ibragimov will receive a certificate of non-citizen of Russia, if any, Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of the Caucasus Institute told media, Thursday.
Well-known film director Rustam Ibrahimbekov is the single opposition candidate for president of Azerbaijan. He has a second Russian citizenship. His registration as candidate for president will become possible only after he gets rid of his second citizenship. Ibrahimbekov has applied to President Vladimir Putin with a request to surrender the Russian citizenship.
"How calm will be the upcoming election and post-election processes in Azerbaijan depends on that very factor, the more so as Ilham Aliyev will retain his power," Iskandaryan said. According to him, the working visit of the Russian president to Azerbaijan pursued various goals bearing no relation to Armenia. In this light, he assessed the comments in the country regarding Putin's visit to Baku as panic of some circles and media outlets.