Azerbaijan and Eurovision (post no. 19098942093)

Here is a piece of gossip you probably missed watching Eurovision today. A young man, by the name of Rauf Mardiyev sent me a tweet calling me "brainwashed" and "stupid" (indirectly that is, through his tweets) following tweets being sent out throughout the last give or take few years about Azerbaijan, its poor democratic and human rights record, not to mention issues and problems existing with free press, and freedom to speak one's mind. It turns out, Azerbaijan's democracy is limited to only praises and words of gratitude because when it comes to criticism its not all ok. 

Translation: @arzugeybulla Will you write anything positive about this #Eurovision? Why don't you understand (your brain doesn't take it literally), what you are doing is damaging #Azerbaijan in the first place

Now, personally I would love to raise praising words when it comes to Azerbaijan, was there a democracy I would be the first to say cheers! Would there be free press and respect for Azerbaijani journalists, I would be the first to say cheers! But Rauf, as long as none of this exists, people continue going through corrupted universities and schools, patients continue to pay bribes in hospitals and fail to receive proper health care there is nothing to praise this country for. Of course, we might have different perceptions of praise- as you say "thousands like you" see Azerbaijan as a shining beacon of whatever it is that you see it to be but as I have said it already earlier today, I am going to repeat it again- WAKE UP! 

Yes, Eurovision brought us the Crystal Hall, but at what costs? I much rather prefer couple of hundreds thousands spent on our very own pensioners, on the costs of drugs they need to get, make it free or at least equally accessible for all among so many things that could be done to make lives of Azerbaijani people better.

Yes, it is also true that Eurovision brought us the city beautification, but again, at what costs? So you don't care about those Azerbaijanis who still have no water, gas, or electricity constantly running in their homes in villages all the while you and the tens of thousands like you prefer watching Eurovision and indulge yourself in wealth that is not equally distributed, nor equally accessible to other young people like you. 

If you think there is something good to say about Eurovision then talk about illegal evictions our government carried out. You should also talk about beaten, arrested journalists in prisons. Or, wait, I know, you should praise our country for blackmailing, it does it really well. 

You might be one of the hundreds of thousands but the value and weight of spoken truth is so much more than the people like you. You are trying to tell a story backwards but what you are failing to see is that the story was already told, many times and just like me, people who know, know... So if you think that by sending me few tweets as the one above, calling me brainwashed I am going to be ashamed of my actions and become a "different" person then you are mistaken (in fact, I am not sure all together why you send me tweets to this day, didn't way close this subject a while ago when you continuously decided for some reason to take up your issues with me as if I am the only person who writes about our inspirational country?). I choose honesty over whatever it is you live and propagate for.

Maybe after watching this report on Azerbaijan (watch on BBC) you will at least stop harassing me on Twitter. Peace out!

Here are the rest of the tweets we exchanged after the initial one: 

Azerbaijan's never ending insane development projects

If Azerbaijan was a place where people lived in full equality, where journalists had their full rights, where social welfare was at its best and everything was just fine, I would have probably applauded this project. But in a country where minimum salaries can't cover living costs and where freedom of expression, human rights, social protection programs, education, health care and other services are literally collapsing this is for sure a waste of money. And don't tell me Azerbaijani people need this- what Azerbaijani citizen living in a a village in Lenkoran needs, is a proper sewage system, heating and electricity, not to mention a salary and conditions good enough to keep his/her family happy and healthy. Perhaps instead of commissioning these over-the-top initiatives, our respective bodies of governance should channel this money to at least some of the multiple problems that actually are more important at this point than building an Olympic Stadium?!

Was it really a good year for Azerbaijan?

Today, President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, went on TV and congratulated his countrymen with the New Year and World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day. In his speech, the president talked about 2010 and its overall success for his country. Below is a rough translation from his speech [AZ]:

[...] Despite international financial crisis, Azerbaijan achieved great successes in 2010. Our economy grew by 5%, population income by 12% and inflation was only 5.7% [...] In 2010 we have built 45 medical institutions, more than 70 schools (including those that were renovated), 5 Olympic Sports Centers. Minimum pensions and salaries were raised [...]

Foreign policy too saw much success in 2010. The number of our friends and countries wanting to become our partners is growing... Our relations with international organizations are already established, and are based on mutual respect, mutual trust, and mutual interests [...]

We have had large infrastructure projects implemented in 2010. In transportation sector, construction [...] In 2010, construction of ship building factory was started in Baku. International Sea Trade Port's construction was initiated in Baku [...]

Talking about the territorial integrity, the President spoke of the importance attached to the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh and its future status: "Azerbaijan will never allow for creation of a second Armenian state on our own territory". Adding that those who live in Nagorno Karabakh, and the Azerbaijanis returning there, will only live under autonomy status.

A number of other things was mentioned but wouldn't it better if the President of Azerbaijan, in the spirit of a new year/ new beginning said something else? Something "analogu olmayan" (never said or done before) for a change? 

That maybe as of 2011, he is raising salaries/ pensions/ stipends of all teachers, doctors, professors,  students, pensioners by not just 5 or 10 manats but actually by couple hundred? That there will be no more corruption in this country! That people will actually live and not try to survive every day! 

That this year he is going to make this country get rid of all its bad habits it has made itself known for in the world (and no! I am not talking about unprecedented double digit economic growth that Azerbaijan saw once back few years ago) like granting freedom of expression, provision of full equality among men and women, protection of human rights, liberty and above all democracy?! 

That finally, things are going to change in Azerbaijan to the good rather than worse! That he promises, that the country wont be ranked among the lowest when there would be reports on media freedom! That instead of laundering billions of manats, investment will be made for bright and intelligent future generation! That they will no longer have to pay for their grades and diplomas! That these young people will be educated according to international standards, when lectures wont be boring and based on soviet style education but modernized and taught by people who actually want to teach (rather than those who see their students as currency signs)! 

That Azerbaijan will respect its history and stop demolishing its old cites (especially in Baku)! That finally, lies and fake promises and statements will be replaced by honor, respect, and freedom!

That this year, he promises that as a President of this small and yet very rich country, he is going to use every possible resource at his hand to get his people to trust the government once again rather than full them around and keep them under control, monitored and censored?! 

I guess not... But who knows, maybe there is still some hope for the next year (or years to come)...