By RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service August 12, 2013

BAKU — Azerbaijan’s opposition National Council of Democratic Forces has officially nominated Oscar-winning screenwriter Rustam Ibragimbekov as its presidential candidate.

Elman Mammadzade, the chairman of the council’s task  force, which will register Ibragimbekov for the race, told journalists on August 12 that the necessary documents will be filed with the Central Election Commission at the earliest opportunity.

Ibragimbekov, 74, was proposed by an opposition coalition last month as the presidential candidate to challenge incumbent President Ilham Aliyev on October 9.

Ibragimbekov said earlier that he is staying out of Azerbaijan at present, because of the threat of being arrested in Baku and the lengthy process of giving up his joint Russian citizenship in order to be an eligible candidate.