Azeri president does not want to see his portraits in the streets

Ilkham Aliev, president of Azerbaijan, has ordered to remove his portraits from the streets of the country's towns and villages. The president is especially concerned about the necessity to remove his portraits from the streets in connection with the coming presidential election.

"Equal conditions must be ensured for all candidates. They are in place and we must continue ensuring equal conditions ", cites Aliev's words the "Interfax agency".

"I have been instructing executive authorities to remove my portraits and posters from the streets of towns and villages before. I do not treat this well, it is not necessary. As soon as I see a new portrait I immediately give a mission to remove it", said Aliev on August 5, at the expanded session of the government which discussed the results of the country's socio-economic development in the first half of 2008.

According to Ali Gasanov, manager of public and political department of the Executive Office under the President of Azerbaijan, Ilkham Aliev has given the order to the head of the executive power in Baku and to the heads of local executive authorities to remove his portraits from districts, streets and parks within the shortest time possible and never to place them again, reports the APA agency.