Dialogue but only around election time

As I was reading this piece of news, I couldn't stop laughing. I am glad that our beloved Head of the Social and Political Department under the  Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov, remembered the existence of Azerbaijani opposition and also press (because at some point wasn't it Hasanov himself who claimed that there was no opposition whatsoever in Azerbaijan?!). In his comments during an event, the official was quoted saying:

A dialogue will be conducted with the opposition, press, political parties in Azerbaijan on the eve of presidential elections.

'Cuz there is no need for any dialogue prior to the elections?! And will this dialogue involve water canons and rubber bullets? Or will it be just about beating and torturing? Hmm... lets see, technically there is still time until the elections, so who knows, maybe there will be some special dialogue format organized in a place like Qobustan. I can tell you how its going to look. Opposition and independent press will be put in buses and taken to Qobustan, while political parties and other media will take their seats at one of the 5-Star hotels, sipping on their tea with lemon and laughing out loud applauding their recent dialogue with the opposition and the press and giving more press statements on the success of their diplomacy, the state of free media and prospering democracy. 

More arrests in Baku

In Baku, local authorities continue to silence voices but also skillfully are getting rid of alternative presidential candidates as it seems. Yesterday, February 4th, deputy chairperson of the opposition Musavat party- Tofig Yagublu and chairperson of the opposition group REAL- Ilgar Mammadov were arrested. Ilgar was questioned for several hours on the morning of the 4th and taken to the court. His lawyer while refraining from making any statements until the case received any final verdict after Mammadov received two months in pre- trial detention said:

This is totally illegal, a decision that has no legal basis. This decision is against the Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as well as Azerbaijan's legislation. This is a result of a politically motivated decision nothing more.

The two are being charged with instigating riots in Ismayilli. If found guilty, they are facing up to three years in jail. 

In addition, two more residents of Ismayilli- Abdullayev Mirkazım and Ismayıllı Elshen received two months in pre-trial detention. Ismayilli's brother posted the following update on Facebook:

This regime proved once again how infamous it is. By arresting my brother you will not stop me.

Natig Jafarli, the co- founder of the movement REAL, said in a video interview with RFE/RL that Ilgar Mammadov, and his movement were getting ready to announce Mammadov's candidacy in presidential elections on February 9th. It is obvious said Jafarli that this arrest was politically motivated. He added that the group's decision with candidacy is still effective.