Psychopathic traits and dictators

I am (and sometimes its hard to confess ehm ehm) a big Hunger Games fan. Not only have I read all of the books in one go (literally) I bought this unofficial guide to the books and the story couple months back. And there was one thing that I have been meaning to share on this blog from that book that I really liked but haven't done until now. So here you go.

On p. 130 of the book, the author shares a "Psychopathic Traits, President Snow and his Gamemakers" table, which is a fascinating discovery for me personally especially when most of the traits if not all of them are applicable in reality to most of the authoritarian rulers and their devoted network around the world today. 

I am going to share some of them here with you:

 

This makes pretty much all of the dictators (like the President Snow himself though fictional) psychopaths, which makes me wonder, is it curable? From what I have read so far, looks like its a bit of a difficult process, if not controversial. So, what does that leave us with?                         

Big Brother is watching you!

I wish I had this image when I was putting together previous post on Orwell's book 1984. But its never too late. So here it is:

H.Aliyev is watching you!

A little thank you note to @Turanoza on Twitter for sharing this.

'Running scared: Azerbaijan's Silenced Voices'

This is one of the most recent reports about Azerbaijan and post- Eurovision situation with human rights, freedom of press, journalists and more.

To read this report in Azerbaijani click here.

Running Scared: Azerbaijan's Silenced Voices

From presidency for life, to life long immunity- whats next for Azerbaijan? Life long police state?

It started with a Referendum in 2009 when Azerbaijani President, secured pretty much a presidency for life. But as this wasn't enough, in order to protect himself and his family from recent wave of criticisms and investigations targeting some of the personal and related shady businesses Azerbaijani Parliament (full of pro government puppets) passed two laws. From now on, the President and his family will have extensive immunity rights states one of the laws. The second law "bars government officials from distributing information about companies if doing so 'contradicts the national interests of Azerbaijan in political, economic, and monetary policy, the defense of public order, the health and moral values of the people, or harms the commercial or other interests of individuals."

How is this "necessary" I am not sure, so I am wondering whether the lawyer, Alasgar Mammadli,  didn't have any more concrete explanations apart from stating that "country's political landscape makes such protections necessary"? I thought we were a transparent democracy?!

Anyway, it is obvious that these new changes in our legislation are surely only meant to further embed the authoritarian rule in Azerbaijan and to limit advocates in their attempts to uncover the corrupted nature of most of the Azerbaijani leadership. What will be next? Asking for a permission to speak (though this too ain't far from becoming a reality- as those who speak of what is happening in the country are either "drug addicts", "traitors" or "hooligans")? I guess we'll see soon... how our country turns into a police state.

Ali Hasanov all fired up

Google images

My first reaction to this article was "wait a sec... this can't be true... its a joke". Unfortunately it wasn't. Ali Hasanov, head of the social political department at the Presidential Administration said some things today that were simply unbelievable (not that he has ever said things that made sense before). It was a fired speech he gave nonetheless. For instance his toughest reaction was to human rights organizations as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Freedom House. Why? Well because they speak the truth and truth is one thing Azerbaijani authorities do not like. In fact, its a word erased from their vocabulary a long time ago. 

What Mr. Hasanov and the rest of the Azerbaijani authoritarian leadership fails to see is that the moment they change and adopt true values of democracy (or step down and let democracy take over) none of these institutions are going to rank Azerbaijai at its lowest. But hey, who am I talking about?! 

But the statement of the day was when Ali Hasanov actually said "Nowhere in the world the opposition is not as free as in Azerbaijan". Did he actually say that? I guess he did. I mean "Hello?!" where do you live Mr. Hasanov? Certainly not in a country where recent and previous protests were crashed and protesters arrested? 

European Parliament was also given its share of dragony fire. "Let them look at themselves, let them look at the crisis in the Eastern Europe" he said.

Oh, and Mr. Hasanov, perhaps you missed a big chunk of news and information about the Arab Uprisings. It wasn't caused by "multinational TV channels" but by firstly a young man who was sick of his government and set himself on fire. Unless "multinational TV channels" have some extraordinary powers of remotely setting people on fire you are so oblivious that its just funny and makes you look funny too. So you don't care about Azerbaijani people and their well being, at least have the decency not trash all those Tunisians, Egyptians, Libyans and many more who managed to change their governments and though still in the process, ensure that they no longer will be oppressed, tortured, silenced, arrested and simply ignored by their governments.

Your blindness Mr. Hasanov is just sickening. When will you stop and open your eyes and say something that will remotely resemble truth...

Caviar and diplomacy

Who doesn't like caviar? I am sure there are plenty of people who don't and find it gross but this wont be about tastes and food. Well... I guess in a way it will be. As many of you know some of the best caviar in the world today comes from beluga sturgeon. Considered a luxury even back in the day with tsars and shahs treating their visitors with only the best of delicacies, caviar also came to represent a luxury. Azerbaijan and the Caspian basin was and is the source of this centuries old luxury. And as you would know by now, Azerbaijan and the concept of luxury are very much inter- connected. Azerbaijani authorities especially love everything thats lavish, expensive and glitzy. 

And so the title of this post, takes it after a recently published report by European Stability Initiative titled "Caviar Diplomacy- How Azerbaijani Silenced the Council of Europe" that explores the boundaries of caviar diplomacy, deals, and much more between corrupted Azerbaijani officials and no less corrupted European officials who indulge themselves in lavish presents. 

But I am going to stop here and let you read the report yourselves. Enjoy!

Caviar Diplomacy – How Azerbaijan silenced the Council of Europe

Eurovision 2012- what you see and don't see

This is my most recent storify story on Eurovision and Azerbaijan. More updates to come soon.

Azerbaijani police ready to protect Eurovision in full fashion (updated)

This is the full security Azerbaijani government is promising the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) during Eurovision song contest. Keep silent EBU because Eurovision as you say is not politicized and the police protecting you is not politicized at all, especially in a country like Azerbaijan. 

Source: http://on.fb.me/KWdKBF

Updated May 16th:
And here is a video (read the full story here) from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFEL) of May 14th.

"Spotlight on Azerbaijan"

This a recent report (May 12, 2012) published by the Foreign Policy Center on Azerbaijan, the country's pressing human rights record, corruption, rule of law, freedom of expression and more. 

 

Spotlight on Azerbaijan

Lets just call it spending money on flowers

Though I am few days late with this post, I still wanted to share some thoughts on the well- known by now Flower Day held in Baku. The day as some of you already know is dedicated to Azerbaijan's late President, Heydar Aliyev (also for those who don't know, the father of the current president). As a "token" (you will see why its symbolically in quotation marks later) of appreciation, his son, Ilham Aliyev, announced in 2009, that May 10th, will be the Flower Day held to celebrate the birthday of Aliyev senior. And so, the spending spree began. 

As if, Azerbaijan has nowhere else to spend its wealth (like education, social care, healthcare, and I could go on) and as if, the country is doing just fine with all its infrastructural developments (like having provided gas and electricity to all regions and villages of Azerbaijan, having sorted out sewage and trash issues across the country and I could still go on) our beloved, generous, official government began allocating the "tokens" or in another words, millions of Azerbaijani manats to host this day of joyous celebrations. 

Since 2009, flowers of different sorts are imported to Azerbaijan to decorate Haydar Aliyev National Park and literally dress the whole park in flowers. I actually remember well the first Flower Parade. I was in Baku at that time and had the "honor" to see the park and snap few photographs. I just waned to capture that day as a proof of yet another initiative of wasted money (flowers are thrown away obviously, hence the conclusion, millions down the drain, its simple math). A year later, once again we celebrated Flower Day and so on and so forth.

Now this year, Baku city administration decided to add more spice to the celebrations. They have designed three giant air balloons with of course portraits of Haydar Aliyev on them attached to a boat (sailing boat). In an interview with local press, the city mayor proudly spoke of this year's magnificent show. Flowers were brought from Germany, France, Italy, Brazil with designers working 24/7 to complete re-decoration of the park just in time he was saying in an interview. And then he adds, smiling "I assure you, he is looking at us [referring to H. Aliyev's portrait of flowers] and smiling. I am telling you. For me personally, this is the greatest honor" (The full interview in text available here and video here- both are in AZ). No worries mr. mayor, the only thing looking at you that day was the heating sun and all those sane people who understand the absurdity of this holiday. The rest were... well... happy to be there probably not even knowing why they are there (trust me there are people who go just to see the flowers unaware why those flowers are actually there, but thats another story).

This video report [AZ] provides more detailed info about that day. According to the video, a group of young activists, held a protest to mock the flower day. Their poster read- "we don't need flowers, we want democracy". 

Perhaps one day we are going to have more people understanding that indeed we do not need flowers. What we need instead is a democracy! I am just going to call this flower parade for now a democracy day- hoping that one day we are going to celebrate a true democracy festival in Azerbaijan!

Oil and Poverty

This documentary that was prepared in 2004 (according to the information provided on its YouTube page) portrays some of the footage, you wont normally see when watching fancy commercial adds about Azerbaijan like this one on your TV. Most of it is about oil rigs and refineries but there are also glimpses into lives of people living in Azerbaijan (who most definitely don't drive Porches).

It has no commentary and is accompanied by one of the greatest Azerbaijani composers' Fikret Amirov's  'Azerbaijan'. 

BP, Azerbaijan, spies, oil and some other secrets revealed

The video below is shocking and in a way not so shocking investigation about Azerbaijan, its oil, BP and other actors involved in Azerbaijan's oil boom and its slip to authoritarian dictatorship.

'Generation Facebook: Emin, Adnan, and the Future of Dissent in Azerbaijan'

Much has been said and written about Azerbaijan, its failure to meet democratic standards and treat its citizens justly. Numerous international reports been published, statements made, warnings sent. But none had any effect on this country of 8.6 million population rich in oil and gas. If all goes the way it is, nothing will change in Azerbaijan and free voices will be further silenced, punished and crushed.

However, Azerbaijani youth, its "Facebook Generation" is advocating change, despite it all. European Stability Initiative, a Berlin based think tank looks at this and other nuances of Azerbaijan's popular dissent and political development through several prisms of politicians, youth and international organizations. Starting from the birth of Azerbaijan's first Democratic Republic in 1918, and ending with arrests of Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada, contested Referendum, and 2010 parliamentary elections, this report explores the debts of the popular rhetoric on democratic developments and the role international organizations such as the Council of Europe can play and yet has failed so far.

Ladies and gentlemen, with no further a due, I would like to present here the ESI 2011 Azerbaijan report 'Generation Facebook: Emin, Adnan, and the Future of Dissent in Azerbaijan'.

Generation Facebook in Baku - 15March2011

The time has come...

Dear Mr. President,

The time has come… Not to disrespect your people, not to punish them for their demands, not to humiliate, not to kill, not to arrest, not to crush but listen…

The time has come to embrace the youth that is passionate and determined to live in a country that represents democracy and freedom, where values of humanity are taught in schools and where no one is punished for speaking out…

Azerbaijan is rich- its history, its culture, its arts, its music, its people… Azerbaijan is also rich with bright minds, golden hands, and creative souls… This is the richness and the gold that should be cherished. Yes, Azerbaijan is also rich in oil and gas, but this treasure means nothing for these very bright minds, golden hands, and creative souls.

It doesn’t mean anything for a retired teacher- Huseyn, who can barely afford his medicine. It doesn’t mean anything, for a little girl- Melek, whose family is struggling with affording schoolbooks and other appliances. It doesn’t mean anything, for a medical student- Sevinc, who is crippled by her very own professors just for the sake of extra 50 or 100 dollars (or manats) if not more. It doesn’t mean anything, for a young boy- Sanan, living in a village in Lenkoran, who doesn’t know that girls too have a right to education, work and an independent life or that he cannot decide for the faith of his younger sister.

Look around yourself Mr. President. Look at how many lives you have ruined by not reaching out, refusing to listen and shutting up.

Forget about all those fake smiles, applauds, praises that greet you at places you go. They are not there because they adore you. They are there because they are told to be there.  They are there because they were threatened to be there. You think, an 80-year-old woman, shaking your hand at an opening ceremony of yet another Olympic center, and praising all that you have done for her and her family is out of love? At best, its out of hope, that maybe, you will indeed help, that maybe, behind those elegant suites, stands a man, who truly cares for his people…

Dear Mr. President, you are capable of many things- with one phone call, a man or a woman can get arrested, with one stroke of an eye, someone can lose their life, with one gesture, someone could get lucky or not. Why can’t you treat your people well instead? Why do you keep your people in fear, anger and pain?

True, there is an army behind you- thousands if not more of people who have nothing more but an empty soul, brainwashed, re-programmed and ready to serve you- your personal army of thugs- men in plain cloths or animals who do not fear anything. It is true, that with just that one order, you could unleash them but why? You would not need them if you treated your countrymen well!

Isn’t it enough? The money and the greed have gotten everyone surrounding you rich and capable of doing anything they want. They own mansions, cars, bank accounts abroad; their wives only wear couture and their children live lives that would only be a dream for all those children living across the country in poor households. Where is justice in this? Why do some need to suffer while others only get to live better at the expense of those very pensioners, or teachers, or doctors, or students?

Dear Mr. President- you can arrest/torture/kill/belittle all of the Azerbaijani youth (of course, except those who are loyal to you and only) but greed will eventually end in destruction… All that we – the youth- want is what you speak of all too often in your televised addresses- equal and sustainable development, democracy, respect for human rights and freedom of expression- but not in just empty words and non- existent examples…

No longer can Azerbaijan hide behind the facades that are carefully built to hide lies, secrets, shady businesses, corruption, bribes, and much more… How many more people's lives you plan on ruining? Haven't you had enough?! You have made a tyrant out of yourself and the regime that is ruling this country. No point in dismissing international reports just because they propagate truth. Its not a secret anymore so no need to fool anyone with silly statements and baseless arguments...

Our glorious nation

Today, Azerbaijan was celebrating 86th birthday of its late president (father, leader and all the other glorified names people call him around here) Heydar Aliyev. But it wasn't just a simple birthday celebration- it was the Flower Day!

If this was held on any other day it would have been fine (not that I would have gone to the celebrations anyway) but today, only 10 days later after what happened at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, people who came to the event (and there were a lot of them), the atmosphere seemed more festive, as if nothing happened.

Below is a brief story of what happened today:

I left my house around noon, heading to the Haydar Aliyev Park, where the so- called celebrations were to be held. As I arrived I saw hundreds if not thousands of people entering the park to see expensive flowers brought from Africa for this special occasion (it is said that 15 million manats were spent for this occasion). But it wasn't a simple celebration. There was police everywhere- civilian and in uniforms. They carefully guarded the part all around so as not to let any provocateurs inside to spoil the event. They knew that students and young activists might be having small- scale protests. They were afraid.

It seemed peaceful, people seemed happy, kids running around, parents eating round pastries sold on the street next to the park. 

But not everyone was happy. A group of 15- 20 young people were sitting on the stairs opposite to the park by the State Music Academy, holding carnations in their hands and observing the crowd. At about 2 in the afternoon we decided to start walking towards the State Oil Academy to leave carnations on the steps of the building and then go home as a sign of regret for what was going on. But no, nothing can be simple in this country.

Immediately after we got up, a group of civilian dressed police (or thugs) saw us getting on our feet- there was a lot of talking on the phone and most probably some sort of chain of command going around. As we took the side steps, I saw myself, how one big fat general on the phone, pointing the other civilian dressed fat thug at us. Literally in seconds there were other officers around them looking at us. We crossed the street and as soon as we did, the big fat civilian dressed guy with his phone (perhaps it was a walkie- talkie) came chasing after us. We only took few more steps that when I turned around I saw that same guy shouting at the smaller thugs around him to take all of us in. "Hamsini gotu run" ("take all of them") he said in his loud Azeri voice, there were already police cars by the place where we were standing and lots of civilian dressed men around my friends assisting them to their cars. 

Among those taken in were another bloger Ali Novruzov, creators of AN Network Rashad Shirin, Emin Milli, Nigar Fatali, and Arjen de Wolf (head of NDI)- who was there actually to observe- and a number of other yout

h activists.

We weren't protesting out loud, we were peacefully walking on the street, heads down, talking. I guess that is also a crime or some version of hooliganism as our police forces liked to call it. And the only reason why didn't catch us at first was because they weren't sure how many we were exactly, the tactic was to make sure we were a small group, otherwise it would have been harder.

But the worst thing was when the thugs grabbed a 15 year old girl who

 was standing at the bus stop in the vicinity where all of this occurred. She was crying when she was forced to get into the car but the fat guy on the phone kept on shouting at her and forced her to get into the car.

I am amazed how I wasn't detained. I was miraculously saved simply by standing two meters away from where all of this was going on and taking photos.

The aftermath:

As soon as police cars took off, the fat guy (he seemed like the guy in charge of the "operation") started shouting at other people who were passing by. "Dagilin" ("spread out") he was saying with an angry voice and waving with his wobbly hands. 

After learning where everyone has been taken we all went to the police station. It was number 22.

At first they told us that our friends will be released in 15 minutes. Those 15 minutes turned into long 4 hours. Just as our friends weren't told why they were detained, so were we, standing outside of the police station, not knowing the reason behind their arrest.

The first person to come out was that 15 year old girl. She was detained for wearing black clothes. Obviously our police also didn't know what a word "punk" is either. She was crying as soon as she came out and told Radio Azadliq reporters who were with us since the beginning of the whole thing that she had nothing to do with the protest, she was only waiting for the bus.

Then came Arjen, Rashad, and Nigar. Arjen was the hero of the day as he was called out but he refused, saying that he wont leave.

Then came two girls, also dressed in black. They said they were forced to sign a document as they were leaving, a written apology for their actions. Who was supposed to ask for forgiveness from whom I guess is also dubious in this case! The girls faked their signatures and said they didn't do an apology. Then came the others though not all at the same time- one by one or few people at a time. 

There was no violence inside of the detainment rooms though the officers were rude from what my friends inside told me. They also kept all their mobile phones with them, that was how we kept in touch with them. 

The worst detainment was taking place at the police station number 39. There were around 30 people (even more) detained there, beaten for sure since the station had to call in a doctor who refused to say anything as he left the station to the journalists waiting outside. They were arrested at another park where students were protesting for the celebrations.

By around 6 in the evening everyone was released. I guess they simply wanted to keep us away from the main area and not ruin the day. 

I would like to thank Radio Azadliq, Joanna Ganson from US Embassy and everyone else who came with us or joined us later in front of the police station, (in)patiently waiting for our friends to be released.

I am deeply saddened by what happened today. Not only it was ridiculous and stupid but also it proved once again that our government is relentless when it comes to human rights and freedom of speech. It also proved that no matter what our government is willing to do whatever it takes! Today, I truly hated the fact that I am a citizen of this country! Right now they are doing fireworks on boulevard!