New addition to Heydarov's empire of businesses?!

Its never enough for the rich of Azerbaijan! Businesses, construction bids, companies with interests in everything, lobby companies (of course!) and much more. 

 

Whatever it is that would make the rich of Azerbaijan richer, famous, and make them look good, they'd go after it. 

Soccer too fits perfectly into this combination of money, fame and fortune of Azerbaijani officials. As many of you know, Azerbaijan took over the sponsorship of Atletico Madrid for a season and a half (January 2013). "Azerbaijan, the land of fire" was plastered over their uniforms and the club also visited Azerbaijan.  This caprice cost Azebraijani government just 12millionEUR. You know, pocket money for some in this government. The deal was surely renewed to run for another season in 2014- 2015 (the deal ends by June 2015 surely costing Azerbaijan more than 12millionEUR by this point).

Well there is one person in particular who thinks its time to go beyond just some sponsorship. Cuz' surely thats aint enough. Why not invest in a club?! And thats where Aston Villa comes in. Turns out none of the Sheikhs were interested. But someone similar to a Sheikh is interested. And that Sheikh is from Azerbaijn. His name is Kemaleddin Heydarov. One of the many businesses of Heydarov's empire is a company called Gilan Holding (in case you are interested to see some of the "few" companies listed under Gilan Holding check out this link). Heydarov himself, is the head of the Ministry of Emergencies in Azerbaijan. 

So anyway, this article explores the rumors behind Azerbaijan's Gilan Holding going after Aston Villa team. Christmas is over, but looks likes Heydarov's generous heart and wallet are in for some present.

Post flower day- millions spent on few hours of show and then...

When I saw this video I felt terribly sad for the people there- tearing apart flower decorations brought to the country just for one day, in fact few hours for a show that cost millions of Azerbaijani Manats- to celebrate the birthday of the late president. 

Were they doing it because they hated it? I doubt. Were they doing it because they just wanted some free flowers? Probably. 

Instead, perhaps Administrative Authorities could have organized a day of people in Azerbaijan, open food stalls for the poor, assist those families who are in need, pay extra that month to teachers, doctors, and other state employees- all of this still could have been done in the name of the late president if thats the aim- to commemorate, to pay respect- at least, they could have done something to commemorate the tragedy of April 30th, the shooting at the state oil academy and done something nice for the veterans on Victory Day on May 10th. But I guess none of this would look as grand as the Flower Day...

As they dine, people get fined (photo story)

Source Launch of Nargiz Magazine

No comment, Protest in Baku on Jan. 12

No comment, Protest in Baku on Jan. 12. Source

No comment, Protest in Baku on Jan. 12. Source: Mehman Huseynov, IRFS

No comment, Protest in Baku on Jan. 12. Source: Mehman Huseynov, IRFS

Video of Guler Ahmadova bargaining over parliamentary seat- now with English subtitles

I shared this video in my earlier post on the issue. However the original video was in Azerbaijani. This time you can watch the video with English subtitles. Watch and share! We are yet to see what will happen to Ms. Ahmadova... In the meantime, at least we have confirmed that corruption and bribery in Azerbaijan has no limits. That is why Azerbaijani Milli Majlis (the National Parliament) will never exercise its executive power. That is why non of our "democratically elected" MPs will ever stand by their people, vote on laws that would protect the people. The only body they will stand by will be their President- the one and only, Aliyev All Mighty! And that will always be their Achilles Hill- one mistake, one wrong word, one statement (against the President and his cronies of course) and your mandate is gone, and you are back among those very people you disrespect and fool by fake elections, false promises and look at them from above as if you are untouchable forever...

The full transcript of the video available here.

Azerbaijan valuing glitz over human rights (via storify)

April 30th- we remember the tragedy at the State Oil Academy

Today while remembering what happened on April 30th, exactly three years ago,  I recollect my memories of that day, trying to once again understand the logic, the incentive and the sickening state of mind of the person who committed that terrible crime. His name was Ferda Gadirov, a Georgian national who entered the school that day with a fully loaded gun and started shooting. It didn't matter at whom, he was just shooting. At the end he shot himself as well. According to official numbers 12 people lost their lives while 13 received wounds of different degrees. Some say there were more but where to find that information and how to confirm it...

An article shared today by Radio Liberty Azerbaijani service, shares few videos from that day and commemoration a year later [AZ]. Once again the face of our state police- the little humanity they have in them shows itself all over- dispersing the crowd of young people from gathering in front of the academy, shouting at them, not letting them place carnations on the stairs of the academy. Seeing them I cannot help but wonder, what if one of those students was his son or daughter or maybe a relative- a nephew, a niece? Would it be that easy if that was the case? Or are they so brutal that even something like that would have made no difference? Who knows...

And then another article published by another online news outlet talks about how the president of Azerbaijan paid families of those who were killed a sum of 30.000AZN and to families of those injured 15.000AZN. Some of you might think this was a sign of sympathy, or generosity but it wasn't. A true act of sympathy would have been to let people live their pain, organize a commemoration for all those innocent lives, to allow for people to gather. Instead, any act of remembrance was prevented, because there was a much more important event to be held, 10 days later, it was the notorious Flower Day celebration organized to celebrate the birthday of Azerbaijan's late president Heydar Aliyev. No one cared about lives lost only 10 days prior. A celebratory concert was organized to praise the president and his achievements. You know how much Azerbaijani government spent to hold this celebration? Millions (a debated number for 2009 was around 20 million). Because its more important than lives or ordinary citizens.

If its all about remembering and commemorating (in fashion) that it should be done equally but equality is a loose term for many of Azerbaijani officials meaning little especially when it comes to ordinary citizens of this country.

As to many of us who do remember today and to all those lives lost on April 30th, I can only express my deepest condolences and add, rest in peace young men and women of the State Oil Academy...

'Promoting Azerbaijan's polished face'

This is an article I wrote in March on lobbying activities carried out by the Azerbaijani authorities abroad. Thought I share it here too. The original article can be viewed here.

Promoting Azerbaijan s Polished Face

Carpeted and sumptuous facades of Azerbaijan

As we all just barely recover from the New Year celebrations, never- ending food and goodies left from the festive night, others been working hard. And I am ever grateful for this hard work given the tremendous (or perhaps not so much, depending how you look at it and who looks at it) influence this work might have on certain individuals who prefer lavish life styles and extra cash to things like a drop of honesty perhaps.

Before I confuse you even more, here is what I am talking about. Spiegel, released an article (though I would like to call it more of a tribute) about/to Azerbaijan which might please critics of the government and not so much those who are lobbying to "burnish" the country's image in Europe. Apparently the busy bees been occupied contracting shady pr agencies and throwing extravagant parties disguised under "cultural events" (apparently having carpets involved makes the purpose of such gatherings cultural- sigh, if only carpets knew how they are being used these days...) to improve the country's image in preparations to the upcoming Eurovision song contest. 

Perhaps the busy bees are blinded my their bank accounts (reminding me of Donald Duck and his "$"- sign- popping- eyes) and their little tiny brains that were at some point in time and space replaced by "money money money, always sunny" phrases (which by no means implies that I don't have respect for ABBA anymore) and propaganda- talking machines. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how many ex- European government officials you "buy", "convert" or whatever this shady business style is called these days- oh, I remembered now, it has a fancy word for it- Lobbying!- one can only hide behind carpeted and sumptuous facades this much. Sadly, it also reveals how much money can buy and what it can eventually do to you (see for instance Qaddafi and his "sad" departure from this world). 

Anyway, the point is, you should read the article, draw your own conclusion, decide what to believe in and finally visit Azerbaijan this May. We live in a funny world, you just have to be careful who you trust, how you trust and whats behind that. After all Ronald Reagan did say once "trust, but verify"...

Another demolition, another eviction

Today, the office of the Peace and Democracy Institute was slowly taken apart by some random men along hundreds of homes and office spaces destroyed and demolished in one of the oldest areas of the capital of Azerbaijan. The authorities are planning to erect a winter boulevard on that area. 

The video below is the footage from today- how that office is taken apart piece by piece. The yelling women in the video are demanding for the resignation of the president, and his aid, calling them traitors and violators of human rights. The yelling man outraged promises that one day the homes of Ilham Aliyev, Ramiz Mehtiyev and others like them will be destroyed, their dictatorship will be destroyed just like that.

These men and women can yell as much as they want, their voices will only remain in this video. Azerbaijani authorities made it clear many times before that they don't care about its people. They only care about the sheep that quietly follows them. And as to the people?! Well, who are they for the Azerbaijani leadership?! They will and do just crush them, just as they crushed those homes...