Tension is rising in Azerbaijan ahead of parliamentary elections this weekend.The main opposition alliance, called Azadliq, has adopted the colour orange for its campaign.

It is a reference to the mass protests in Ukraine after rigged elections in 2004. In Azerbaijan there are predictions similiar demonstrations could follow the vote on Sunday. Elman Salayev, an opposition candidate, said: “One thing I want to deliver to everybody in Azerbaijan and the international community: they have to know that if a person chooses opposition in Azerbaijan, he has to be ready for all kinds of oppression against him.” There are allegations hundreds of candidates have been forced out of the campaign, most of them from the ruling party led by President Ilham Aliyev. He came to power in 2003 in a vote that international monitors said was marred by vote-rigging and intimidation.

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