Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan (CEC) conducted its session headed by Mr. Mazahir Panahov on August 16, 2008. Firstly, CEC Chairman reported on the registration of the candidacy of Mr. Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev nominated by the New Azerbaijani Party. He stated that candidacy of Mr. Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the New Azerbaijani Party nominated by this party was approved by Decision # 9/33 adopted by the CEC dated on August 7, 2008. Signature sheets including 46750 signatures of voters collected in the support of the nominated candidate and the documents to be attached to them were submitted to the CEC by the authorized representative of the party on August 11, 2008. Signatures were collected from 124 constituencies. Election documents submitted for the registration of the candidate were checked by the specialists of the Working Group. Relevant investigation was conducted in time and case implied by legislation and bases for the registration of the candidate were determined.CEC adopted decision on the registration of Mr. Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev as a candidate in Presidential Elections of the Republic of Azerbaijan appointed on October 15, 2008. Later, Mr. Natig Mammadov, CEC Secretary reported on the approval of the candidacy of Mr. Gulamhuseyn Surkhay oghlu Alibayli nominated on his own initiative. CEC adopted decision on the approval of the candidacy of Mr. Gulamhuseyn Surkhay oghlu Alibayli. Decision was also adopted on the registration of Mr. Muzaffar Giyas oghlu Bakhishov as an authorized representative of Mr. Gulamhuseyn Surkhay oghlu Alibayli, candidate to presidency. CEC also adopted decisions on making amendments in some normative acts.CEC made amendments in the composition of some Constituency Election Commissions.

At the session, current issues were also considered.At the CEC session, representatives of IFES (the USA) and mass media also took part.