Dear Mr. President...

Dear Mr. President,

Why do I feel like you hate us- the youth of Azerbaijan, who is educated, creative, talented and smart?

Why do young Azerbaijani students need to suffer in universities, just because their teachers demand money?

Why is it, that the prestige of a university is measured not by the education it gives but how much an exam costs?

Why is it that every time when I think of our government, I can't think of good enough reasons to protect and respect my country?

Why is it, that when talking of our history, of first independent Azerbaijan of 1918 that we all take so much pride in and of great figures as Mammad Amin Rasulzade, I find myself surrounded by streets, parks, avenues, statues dedicated to our late President- Heydar Aliyev and other members of your family?

Why is it, that in the place where Rasulzade's statue was supposed to stand, there is a fountain?

Dear Mr. President,

Why do you think that we are the threat to you and your government?

Have you tried talking and listening to us? Hearing great ideas we have? After all, we did study international relations, management, political science, economics, law, and many other academic fields to be useful for our countries and make it a better place?

Dear Mr. President,

Why is it always has to be "us" vs. "them" ("you")? Why are we threatened or have to spend our youth in prison cells while actual criminals are free and enjoy their careless lives?

Why is it, when one of us, wants to go abroad, we have to defer our offers because the government refuses to sponsor some of us because of our views?

Dear Mr. President,

I like the new Baku, but I don't agree that we need to demolish old buildings- thats also our history. I like the new clean buildings, but I don't like walking in the street and inhaling all that stone sand that comes off the buildings during renovation. I like the new parks but I don't think its right to remove statues- don't you think its also part of our history?

And lastly, Dear Mr. President,

I know you don't like when others tell you what to do and when others criticize things you do, but perhaps, you are simply not aware of it (so maybe if I write it here, now, you will know and take some measures to deal with it), majority of people are suffering in this country but simply are too afraid to talk and say what they want to say because their salaries are low or their pensions are not enough.

As a citizen of this country, there is nothing more than me wanting to see Azerbaijan become a better place, where people can talk freely, act independently, write passionately, and live without fear! I still have some hopes, I hope these hopes only grow stronger rather than fade away and remain a dream...