Azerbaijani President Appoints Wife as Vice President

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (R) and Azerbaijani first lady Mihriban Aliyeva.

Baku, Azerbaijan, 24 Jumadil Awwal 1438/21 February 2017 (MINA) – President Ilham Aliyev appointed his wife Mehriban Aliyeva as the country’s first vice president Tuesday, Anadolu Agency reported, citing an official statement from the presidency.

Azerbaijanis voted to amend the country’s Constitution on Sept. 26, 2016. The amendments created new leadership positions, including a first vice presidency and a number of deputy presidents.

The president’s term was also extended from five to seven years.

The new first vice president post also carries immunity from prosecution.

Aliyeva, 52, studied at the Moscow State Medical Institute, according to her official website.

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She has been a member of the New Azerbaijan Party since 2004 and the party’s deputy chairwoman since 2013, it said. (T/RS05/RS01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)