Once upon a time, in an Aliyev land...

Once upon a time, in an Aliyev land, run by an Aliyev clan,
lived a society, oblivious to a plan
that an Aliyev clan will diminish their worth in a span
of just two decades, give or take.

But wait for a sec.!
For some, we are still a democracy,
Even if everyone knows its all a hypocrisy. 

We never knew a democracy,
We only knew of it,
In books, stories, and memories
From those who saw it, felt it, and lived it.

For us, on the other hand,
Little is left to demand.
Our voices are muzzled.
While our minds are hustled,
for even trying to dream and imagine
a future free from
lies, corruption, and nepotism.

So instead, we are stuck in a world of cynicism. 

Today, another activist went to jail,
Her cell is cold while she is frail.
She has spent her lifetime fighting but to no avail,
For she was not liked by those above
For she said things, under the thumb of
Those who hated her, and others like her

And there are more like her.
Forced behind bars, both physically and mentally.
In a country, where arrests have become a matter of revenge
On anyone who tried expressing their rage.

And so it ends, the story of a society, oblivious to a grand plan
That was in the making by Aliyev clan
Welcome, to a la la land
of amputated spirits, marching their way, to the unknown.

Azerbaijan developments after September Referendum

Although one can hardly call these developments.

I pick up on an entry I wrote about arrests ahead of September Referendum.

So it happened and the authorities got what they wanted. All proposed 29 amendments "received" overwhelming approval from the general public.

In the meantime, arrests and detentions continue in post-referendum Azerbaijan.

Below is the list recent arrests, detentions and sentences:

October 11, member of Popular Front Party Khatai Nabiyev, was detained in Sumgayit and sentenced to 30 days in administrative detention.

October 14, head of Nefchala branch of Popular Front Party Aflatun Ahmadzade was briefly detained and then released.

October 25, youth activist Giyas Ibrahimov sentenced to 10 years on bogus drug possession charges.

Also on October 25th, court extended pretrial detention period of journalist Fikrat Faramazoglu by another three months. More on his case here.

November 3, member of Popular Front Party Samir Mammadov was detained and sentenced to one month in administrative detention for reasons unknown.

November 5, two youth activists Tapdiq Mammadov and Elmir Tahmin are detained and sentenced to 30 day administrative detention for writing graffiti in the city of Ganja.

November 7, Popular Front Party member Vusal Zeynalov was detained in Agstava and sentenced to 20 days in administrative detention for allegedly resisting police.

Azerbaijan developments ahead of September Referendum

Looks like this list will just get longer and longer. 

I started compiling list of arrested, detained (as well as released) activists in Azerbaijan since August ahead of the upcoming referendum. 

It is work in progress. 

Natig Jafarli arrested August 13, 2016 (REAL movement)- sentenced to 4 months in pretrial detention; charges: illegal entrepreneurship and abuse of power (Released September 9, ; 

*Bakhtiyar Hajiyev fined in the amount of 100AZN for "petty hooliganism";

Elgiz Gahraman, arrested August 13, 2016 (N!DA)- sentenced to 4 months in pretrial detention on charges of drug possession (later interrogated for alleged links to Gulen movement); 

Elshen Gasimov arrested August 15, 2016 (REAL movement)- sentenced to 7 days in administrative detention for resisting police [released];

Togrul Ismayilov arrested August 15, 2016 (REAL movement)- sentenced to 7 days in administrative detention for resisting police [released]; 

Turgut Gambar detained August 18, 2016 (N!DA)- released; 

Aytac Ahmadova detained August 18, 2016 (journalist)- released;

Ilgar Valiyev detained August 18, 2016 (journalist)- released; 

Parviz hashimli detained August 18, 2016 (journalist, former political prisoner)- released but fined for "petty hooliganism" in the amount of 50AZN;

Fuad Ahmadli August 18, 2016 (Popular Front Party member)- accused of abuse of power; appeal on pre-trial detention is rejected on Aug 24. In addition Ahmadli was accused of Article 302 and 308 of the Criminal Code, violation of the criminal investigation activity and abuse of power respectively. Police also tried linking Ahmadli's case to Gulen investigations accusing him for providing Gulen network with personal information of mobile phone subscribers while Ahmadli worked as call center operator at Azerfon. 

Gadim Bakirov August 18, 2016 (Popular Front Party member)- sentenced to 25 days in administrative detention;

Vasif Fatiyev August 19, 2016 (Popular Front Party member) detained then released August 22; 

Samir Ibrahim August 20, 2016 (Musavat party member) detained then released the same day; 

Novruz Guluzade August 20, 2016 (Azerbaijan Nation Party)- detained then released the same day; 

Faig Amirli August 20, 2016 (Azadliq Newspaper, Finance director)- charged with Article 168 of the Criminal Code (violation of citizen's rights while performing religious activity); 

Ismayil Rasulov detained August 24, 2016 (Popular Front Party member)- sentenced to 30 days of administrative detention for resisting police (Rasulov is Karabakh war veteran); Released August 30 after public outcry to an arrest of war veteran;

Azadliq Newspaper does not print its new issue due to outstanding debt- August 28, 2016;

Mehman Huseynov August 29 (blogger)- detained, then released;  

Masud Asgar August 29 (N!DA activist)- detained, then released; 

Samir Asadli August 29 (N!DA activist)- detained, then released; 

*All three- Mehman, Masud and Samir were taken to the police after filming the conditions at the local hospital. Mehman is known for posting controversial videos exposing corruption, inequality and other social and economic problems across the country on his video channel. 

Also on August 29, it is two year anniversary since journalist Seymur Hezi's unlawful arrest; 

August 30, 2016- Movsum Samadov, political prisoner begins hunger strike in protest to proposed constitutional amendments and the upcoming referendum after which he is placed in penal isolation ward. 

Also on August 30, Freedom House launches new "#" dedicated to President Ilham Aliyev ahead of Referenedum: #desperate 

September 6, 2016- court in Baku extended pre-trial detention period of young activist Bayram Mammadov by additional two months. Mammadov was arrested in May on charges of drug posession;

Also on September 6, writer and author of numerous books Akram Aylisli was invited to the police as part of the on-going criminal case launched against him at the end of March of this year for alleged assault against government employee at Azerbaijan International Airport. 

September 8, 2016- former prosecutor Rufat Safarov who resigned as a sign of protest to the on-going corruption sentenced to 9 years in prison on bribery charges (Safarov's father happens to be one of the founder's of the ruling party);

Also on September 8, 2016, court in Baku began the hearing in the case of youth activist Giyas Ibrahimov. Ibrahimov was arrested in May on charges of drug possession together with Bayram Mammadov. However both men exposed torture and ill treatment during their detention in their detailed descriptions. The two were arrested after drawing graffiti on the statue of the late president Haydar Aliyev. 

September 9, 2016- Parliament plans to grant "investigators" rights to search without search warrants.

Also on September 9, police questioned editor in chief of opposition Azadliq newspaper Rahim Hajiyev. He is the fourth Azadliq newspaper staff to be questioned following questioning of Vidadi Mammadov, Khayal Babayev and editor Sujaddin Sharifov. 

Time for summer clean- up after Eurovision

This is my most recent article on post- Eurovision Azerbaijan and the crackdowns that continue in a country where change (a very optimistic word in this case) is very slow and authorities care little about anything but themselves. 

You can read the original article in English here and in Italian here.

Time for Summer Clean Up After Eurovision in Azerbaijan

6 activists sentenced in Azerbaijan

According to this article published on August 25th, 6 Azerbaijani opposition activists were sentenced to various times with the highest jail term of three years for staging anti- government protests in the capital of Azerbaijan in April of this year. Among sentenced are Zulfugar Eyvazli (18 months), Babak Huseynov (18 months), Sahib Karimov (2 years), Elshan Hasanov (2 years), Elnur Israfilov (2.5 years), Arif Alishli (3 years). 

The protests organized by the Oppositional Public Chamber were dispersed and resulted in arrests of more than dozen activists. According to the article, 8 more activists are awaiting trial.

Eurovision 2012 in Azerbaijan, Triumph or Trap?

My recent article written for Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso. You can read the article at Osservatorio's website by clicking on the title.

May 14th of this year was no ordinary day for Azerbaijan. That day marked Azerbaijan's first place victory in the Eurovision Song Contest in what was only the country's fourth year of participation in the competition. The streets of Baku were festive as Eurovision fans poured onto the streets celebrating, chanting and waiving Azerbaijani flags. The country’s president personally greeted and congratulated the winning duo, Ell and Nikki, praising the two for their outstanding performance in Dusseldorf, the host of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, and calling their success a “people’s victory.” However, while Azerbaijani authorities and many of the country's supporters together celebrate the country’s success, Azerbaijan still remains a country with a poor human rights record and an overall lack of adherence to democratic values.

The Euro Idol

Now in its 56th year, the Eurovision song contest is a glitzy show similar to ‘American Idol’ where fans vote for their favorite songs and singers. It is also the most-watched non-sport event in most of Europe with millions of people following the show. However, it is also known for its deeply politicized nature with neighboring countries favoring and voting for each other. In just one example of this favoritism, Turkey and Azerbaijan vote each year to award the highest possible mark of 12 points to one another. This year was no exception. Turkey - along with other countries like Russia, Malta, Ukraine, Greece, Croatia, San- Marino, Romania and Moldova - gave Azerbaijan the highest scores possible.

Azerbaijan was represented by a singing duo, Eldar Gasimov (age 21) and Nigar Jamal (age 30), also known by their nicknames of Ell and Nikki. Their song, called “Running Scared”, had already gotten some favorable nods during preliminary performances. Composed and written by three Swedish songwriters, Stefan Örn, Sandra Bjurman and Iain Farguhanson, “Running Scared” is about two young people who are so in love that they are too afraid to finally reach one other and unite.

We Knew We’d Win Anyway

According to political official Ali Hasanov, head of the political department under the Presidential Administration, “the victory was not unexpected”. Hasanov believes it is the importance and “great attention” Azerbaijan attaches to the Eurovision competition every year that got Azerbaijan its first place prize. But other factors may have played a role. Azerbaijan's fashion icon and culture guardian, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and the Haydar Aliyev Foundation she heads are involved in the contest. Her immediate appointment as the head of the Organizational Committee responsible for Eurovision 2012 in Baku only proves this to be true.

Azerbaijan's generous allocation of funds for Eurovision competitors is not something new for the country. As the world was tightening its belts during the financial crisis, last year alone Azerbaijan spent over two million US Dollars on a young singer: Safura. The performer’s Eurovision stunt included hiring Beyonce’s choreographer, a kitschy MTV-like video and expensive stage costumes.

Under the spotlight

Having won the contest this year, Azerbaijan will be the host of the Eurovision 2012 contest, currently scheduled to take place between 22 and 26 May, 2012. International critiques suggest that this might have an effect on the country’s poor human rights record while domestic observers are more interested in taking advantage of Azerbaijan's time in the spotlight to promote the country's culture and tourism. The contest could offer a possible political benefit in the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for 2012. Other stakeholders hope some attention will be paid to the ongoing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh, a territorial dispute that escalated in 1992 and has left thousands of people killed, missing, or displaced.

The head of the EU delegation to Azerbaijan, Roland Kobia, sees the upcoming event as a “golden opportunity”. In a statement he made shortly after the contest, Kobia said Azerbaijan should use this occasion to show the world its commitment to reforms and to the modernization of its society.

Many human rights activists and pro-democracy advocates in Azerbaijan can only wish such optimism were realistic, especially as the country has gained a negative reputation abroad for its crackdowns on activists and journalists, its tight control of independent media, and its history of rigged elections.

It was ironic to see that while thousands of Azerbaijanis hailed the Eurovision victory in Freedom Square on the night of May 14th in the capital of this oil-rich nation, that very same square has been closed to any political protests since 2003. The square has been closed to demonstrations since mass protests held in 2003 when the country’s current president came to power in undemocratic elections that failed to meet Azerbaijan's OSCE commitments and international standards for democratic elections.

A resolution recently adopted by the European Parliament condemns a recent wave of crackdowns in Azerbaijan on journalists, lawyers, and human rights activists. The resolution underlines the country’s superficial commitment to a number of international conventions and agreements. In the past four years, the country has regressed in its reform pledges rather than progressed, going so far as to accuse some of its young activists of plotting the overthrow of the regime. The recent forced closure of the Norwegian Human Rights House is just another example of recent crackdowns. Azerbaijan remains the only member state of the Council of Europe that, to this day, refuses to allow the Council’s special representative on political prisoners to visit.

And so, while Ell and Nikki are “Running Scared” from each other, Azerbaijan’s activists and many others are running scared from the Azerbaijani authorities at home and abroad. And it is definitely not out of strong love and affection for each other…