Chronology of protests in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan consists of 60+ districts (which are also known as rayon); 11 cities; and 1 autonomous republic. 

Since January 11, several districts across Azerbaijan saw its residents take the streets in frustration of soaring unemployment and price hikes (with an exception of Sumgayit where residents and mostly owners of little shops protested authorities decision to demolish their properties without any compensation). 

Below is the chronology of events and the names of towns where uprisings took place:

January 11 

• Sumgayt (Sumgayit district) Population 314,800 

January 12

• Liman (city in Lankaran district) Approximately 14,000 people in the city out of total 209,900 
• Siazan (Siazan district) Population 38,400 (police keeping "things under control" watch video here)
• Aghcabedi (Aghjabadi district) Population 124,000

January 13 

• Agsu (Agsu district) Population 72,100 
• Fizuli (Fizuli district) Population 118,900  
• Ujar (Ujar district) Population 79,800

January 14

Fearing the spill off, the government sends in troops to Sheki and Quba. In Sheki, Popular Front Party members are detained.

The 18% tax on wheat and bread cancelled.

January 15

• Quba (Quba district) Population 155,600 All entrance and exits into the city are controlled by the police while people’s demands remain the same- jobs, prices and living conditions (watch video here - people are chanting "istefa" [Resign]).  
• Zobcuq settlement (Fizuli district) 

January 16 

• Aghcabedi 
• Fizuli (can watch video sent by Fizuli resident here)

January 17 

• Hovsan settlement in Baku

January 18

• Employees at Bina shopping center didn't show up at work today [January 18] demanding drop in rents leaving the mall management without any customers.  
• Jalilabad (Jalilabad district) Population 196,500 
• Shaghaci village (Astara district)   

January 20 

• In Ganja, online activists called into questioning as of January 17. According to AzadliqRadiosu, activists are told not to call for any protests and even stop "liking" any comments or other related posts 

January 21

• a group of owners went on a strike at the market for car sales situated on Babak avenue in the capital of Baku. They demanded that the market management decreased rent prices given manat devalued almost by half in the past year. The management complied this time, decreasing prices by 10%

January 25

• employees of Dashkasan Mining Factory came to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection demanding their salaries of the past two years- the employees say they have not been paid for the past two years.   
• also today a group of employees employed by AzerInshaat [construction company] gathered in front of the company headquarters demanding their unpaid salaries. Employees also protested last year October for the same reasons.  

January 26

• two more banks bid farewell today: United Credit Bank and NBC Bank's license was revoked  

January 27

• Two more banks lose their license in Azerbaijan: Caucasus Development Bank (Qafqaz Inkisaf Bank) and AtraBank 

January 28

• ParaBank says it won't issue any more loans  
• protests erupt in another town- Sumgayit. This time it were the shop owners at Karvan mall in Sumgayit. They were demanding that the mall management lowers the rents. They did by 30-50% however, they also said it's short term and will last for 3 months. 

***I took the population stats from here so apologies in advance if they are off.

The protest this time was against arrests carried out shortly after the first protest. Residents were demanding release of those arrested. 

Now, the government authorized total spending in the amount of AZN32billion for regions since 2004 as part of three different state programs:

2004-2008

2009-2013

and 2014-2018 

Where did the money go? Good question! The answer is clear when one visits many of the regions in Azerbaijan where the infrastructure is at its poorest. Not to mention the state of medical facilities in villages, and schools as well. 

The government also claims it has created some 2million new jobs. Where are these jobs? Another good question. The same question asked by many of the protesters of these past few days asking where are these jobs. But no avail. Instead of giving clear answers, the authorities issued arrests and sent in riot police to disperse crowds of peaceful residents demand jobs. 

The average salary in Azerbaijan today is AZN261.30. Following second devaluation and with the current exchange rate, that's about 154USD. 

We are yet to see of other regions join, but it is clear, people are hungry, this is what they keep saying into the very few cameras at the spot because none of the state media would report on the protests. 

Will Aliyev and his minions do something or will they continue to suppress its people while keeping others mute? 

We shall see. I just hope no one gets hurt.

And the Sakharov prize goes to...

European Parliament made its final call and awarded its highest human rights accolade- Sakharov Prize to Dr. Denis Mukwege, Congolese gynecological surgeon. 

Congratulations Mr. Mukwege! I hope your cause and fight reaches out to many more and you save many more lives. 

 

In the meantime, our very own, Leyla Yunus came third. This most likely means, she will remain in prison together with her husband and the government will do whatever it takes to prevent other activists, defenders, journalists from receiving any other awards. Because they want to save face. Because Yunus winning the award would have put further pressure on the ruing government in Azerbaijan. But she didn't win. So less pressure. 

Where does all of this leave us?

The show must go on, and all of us who have taken part in promoting, advocating, writing, lobbying for Azerbaijan's political prisoners, continue doing so and should continue doing so. The Sakharov Prize may be over and Mr. Mukwege is the winner but our political prisoners remain in prison, and the struggle for their freedom must continue. 

You see the problem with spotlights is that they fade, the bulbs blow up or someone needs more spotlight and attention than others so people move on carrying their spotlight with them. But Azerbaijan is just one of those rare countries that needs the spotlight all the time. As soon as its gone, someone else ends up beaten, jailed, harassed, intimidated or worse killed (and it is likely the perpetrators will never be found).

I would like to remind readers in Europe, respected and esteemed Parliament Members, the Council of Europe (even if it has proven useless) and everyone else in the Western hemisphere who keeps tabs on human rights issues in Azerbaijan and still hasn't gone to the "dark side", to continue putting pressure on Azerbaijani leaders. Just think about it for a second: when did we start coming up with excuses when someone is threatened because he/she has a voice? When did we start valuing certain commodities (like caviar) over freedom of speech and freedom to assenbly? When did we start differentiating about different types of citizens, refugees vs. political prisoners? Aren't refugees in a way political prisoners too? Trapped in between official fighting and hunger for power? Aren't we all humans at the end of the day? 

Will these words make more sense and have bigger impact if addressed from the UN stage?! Well, we have no such opportunity so this blog post will have to do!

Oh I know the answer all right. But please tell me,  since when democracies stopped being democracies and turned into profit seeking enterprises; where value for basic human right is no longer valued at its highest and instead its all about barrels. Is it all about barrel of oil vs. barrel of human right?!  

I hope its not. Because if it is then we are kind of doomed. 

 

Why don't we all stop and think for a moment. Just remember the basic rights, remember the basic freedoms. Justice ought to be served eventually for all, and not for one group of people over another. If it is justice Azerbaijani government seeks than it shall seek it equally for all.

Dear friends, supporters, followers, haters, don't forget about Azerbaijan and the crackdown its honest people are facing at the moment. Remember it might be just a tat bit too late when the sh** hits the fan and there is no one to talk to in the country. Just saying...

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...

'Hypocrisy'

'Hypocrisy' is a short promo video about Azerbaijan and the hidden "treasures" behind Eurovision glitz and glamor.

Idrak Abbasov- another journalist attacked and severaly beaten

Here is an image showing journalist Idrak Abbasov beaten today and who is currently hospitalized for his injuries. His attackers are free, probably looking for their new pray. 

Photo source

Ironically today was the day Idrak Abbasov received the Guardian journalism prize at the Index on Censorship free expression award.

The reason for his attack- simple and straightforward. He was doing something that wasn't pleasing to the employees and representatives of the State Oil Company (SOCAR). His attack is only one of the many and those to come in Azerbaijan, a country where democracy and freedom prospers on daily basis if you listen to some of the official statements.

This is a perfect example of prospering freedom in this case- anyone could basically beat up anyone- that is the notion and understanding of freedom...

***
OSCE just issued a statement regarding the beating. Read the full statement here.

The Eurovision no one wants

After its victory in Eurovision 2011 this year, Azerbaijan is the host of the contest next year. However as great of an opportunity it would be for a country to attract international attention and visitors, for Azerbaijan, things look a lot gloomier. As a follow up to my previous post, here is a video [AZ] about present day Azerbaijan and all its "glamor". The country's leadership is no different than a raging bull clearing anyone who stands in its way (even if its an old woman, you will see in the video). 

The video starts with images and footage of recently demolished houses in the capital. It then shows clippings of arrested activists and journalists and more.

Caspian Sea

Came across this video earlier today on Facebook. The band is called Brazzaville and the song "Caspian Sea". Enjoy!

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'. 

"Oil, Afghanistan and Progress"

When Barack Obama declared Azerbaijan as one of the world’s worst violators of freedom of press in April 2009, the already fragile relationship between the two countries became even tenser. In 1992, in the early days of Azerbaijan's independence, the tensions started as a result of the Armenian-Azerbaijani war over Nagorno-Karabakh, where Armenian forces came to control about 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territories. In the summer of that year, the US Congress passed Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which stipulated that the US government could not directly aid Azerbaijan's government, despite US support of neighbouring Georgia and Armenia. The decision raised doubts in Azerbaijan of US impartial involvement as a peace broker in the region and member of the OSCE Minsk Group. Also, some in Azerbaijan saw for the first time that it cannot trust the USA because of the strong Armenian lobby.

You can read the rest of the article here: http://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/All-news/Oil-Afghanistan-and-progress