BAKU, Azerbaijan (CNN) -- Following are brief biographical sketches of the six candidates running for president in Azerbaijan in its first-round election on Sunday.

ETIBAR MAMEDOV -- A historian and former university lecturer, 43-year-old Mamedov heads the National Independence Party (NIP). He was active in secret nationalist circles in the early 1970s. He served on the steering committee of the nationalist Popular Front starting in 1988 and later formed the NIP.

Mamedov has criticized Aliev's government as corrupt and says too much power is concentrated in his hands.

FIRUDIN HASANOV -- Head of a small Communist Party, the little-known Hasanov advocates "progressive socialism" but says he would build a mixed economy.

KHANGUSEIN KYAZIMLI -- Leads the Social Prosperity Party. Kyazimli has promised to cut prices and ease the pain of economic reforms.

ASHRAF MEKHTIYEV -- President of the Association of Victims of Political Repressions. Mekhtiyev has blasted Aliev's government as corrupt and accused him of preparing to rig the vote.

NIZAMI SULEYMANOV -- Leader of the small Independent Azerbaijan Party, Suleymanov made an unsuccessful bid for power in Azerbaijan's first post-Soviet presidential election in 1992, securing a third of the vote. A maverick nationalist, he is well-known for iconoclastic statements that have earned him comparisons with Russia's Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

Reuters contributed to this report.