Azerbaijan President appoints wife as first Vice President

BAKU: In what has perhaps never been witnessed before in history, the President of Azerbaijan appointed his wife as his first Vice President, on Wednesday.

According to details, the leader of the ex-Soviet nation--Ilham Aliyev, 55 named his wife Mehriban, 52, as the country's new Vice President. Though the role of the Vice President has not been described, it is expected that in her new capacity, Mehriban will oversee the working of the cabinet.

The position of the Vice President was created after a constitutional referendum took place last September. The Vice President assumes the office of the President of the country of he/she is rendered unfit to continue his/her duties as President.

The move has invited criticism from opponents, who have slammed the constitutional referendum according to which, the term of the President has also been extended from five to seven years. Critics have accused Aliyev of establishing a dynastic rule instead of following the principles of democracy.

Mehriban has previously served as a lawyer and has also headed a charity. She married her husband when she was 19 years-old and has graduated from a medical university. With her husband, she has two daughters and a son.

Aliyev has constantly been the target of criticism of western countries for alleged human rights abuses and strong-arming dissent.