Short update on Azerbaijan (written for a separate publication, reposting here)

On September 26, 2016 Azerbaijan confirmed the adoption of 29 constitutional amendments, strengthening the power vested in the hands of the ruling regime. Similar to previous elections, September Referendum took place not without election fraud and violations. Videos, interviews, and independent reporting documenting these violations was swept under the carpet as per business as usual. As a result next presidential elections in Azerbaijan will take place in 2020 rather than in 2018 as the presidential term limit were extended from 5 to 7 years. Among other changes are right granted to the incumbent president to call for early elections; dissolve the parliament; and appoint a first vice president who would replace the current president as his constitutional successor. In addition, minimum age for running in parliamentary and presidential elections was reduced to 18 years of age and so on. In a statement issued by the Venice Commission "proposed amendments would severely upset the balance of power by giving unprecedented powers to the president". 

Ali Hasanov, presidential aide described the changes as necessary in order for the government to work more efficiently. For those familiar with this small nation on the shores of the Caspian and rich in energy resources, official Baku already had all the powers it needed to run a country already constrained by corruption, appalling press freedom and human rights record. On January 24, court sentenced independent journalist Rovshan Mammadov to 30 days of administrative detention. Earlier, court sentenced member of youth organization N!DA to a similar charge while fining popular citizen journalist and blogger Mehman Huseynov for allegedly resisting police. Court in Baku in addition sentenced to other members of N!DA movement to ten years in jail on bogus drug possession charges while many critics of the regime saw this sentence as a grave punishment for the two men drawing graffiti on the statue of the late presindent on Flower day, which is know to celebrate late President, Heydar Aliyev's birthday. In addition to the case of Rovshan Mammadov and Mehman Huseynov, at least five other journalists have been arrested or detained by the authorities in recent months including Afgan Sadygov; Zamin Haji, Ikram Rahimov, Fikret Faramazoglu, and Teymur Kerimov according to monitoring by press freedom watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists. 

In the meantime the country witnessed second devaluation and price hikes, which according to the country's independent economists are direct result of mismanagement of the country's economy including wrong economic policies of diversification, presence of monopolies, and rampant corruption. Just weeks ahead of the September Referendum, Bloomberg reported about a halt in foreign currency sales as local currency manat continued to depreciate while demand by businesses and households soared. 

Overall, given the circumstances, there is little space for positive projection for 2017 as restrained conditions remain across the country and regime in Baku continues to push for its personal gains over country wide and much needed and long time overdue reforms.

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.

Mr. President, you have failed us

President Aliyev,

These days letters addressed to you are popular. Even if it comes at great costs.

It is unfortunate...

Your ruthlessness, heartlessness is unfortunate. It is unfortunate for us. As we silently endure your reckless behavior toward us, towards this country, this land. 

As a citizen of Azerbaijan (before you take that away from mel) let me tell you (while I can) if not enlighten you that you have ruined this country and continue ruining it.

While chasing aspirations of something that is beyond my human understanding, you have ruined the lives of generations - at least from where I stand.

You have taken away from us, the most valuable - our future. You have infected the system that we live in, with a deadly virus - hopelessness.

Everything you have touched, is infected.

To cover this you have erected facades. Facades that hide Azerbaijan's reality.

In 2015, a country as rich in natural reserves as us, has political prisoners, no independent media, rights abuse and so much more.

You have wasted what rightly belongs to me and the rest of the 9.3 million people (or at least of those millions who still live in Azerbaijan) on your expensive toys and caprices.

You think we need Zahra Hadid?

We don't. Not when we have schools that are falling apart. Not when we have no equal rights. Not when we have no independent media. Not when we have free and fair elections. Not when we have ruined education and health care system. Not when our villages lack necessary infrastructure. Not when our very own future Hadids are facing inequality, violence and discrimination at home.  Not when we can raise our own generation of so many Hadids. Not when we have most of the country (with an exception of few towns that are taken care of thanks to its rich and well-connected governors) of development.

You think a villager in a remote village of Azerbaijan cares about Flame Towers?

These people care more about bringing food to a table, and struggling to care of their families. They worry whether tomorrow they are going to have electricity all day. Or whether they are going to have finally heating at their home. Or whether their children will finally have an education free of bribes. Or whether their local doctor won't demand money (which they don't have) to take care of a family member. Or whether tomorrow they are going to have the same job, whether they are going to get paid, whether there is anything beyond despair and misery.

Those Flame Towers are not making the lives of those people better.

Zahra Hadid's creation does not provide them with job security.

Another Olympic center or a park, does not assure them that their kids are going to have good future.

President Aliyev, your fellow Ministers, advisers, and many more who kiss up to you, or simply tell you what to do, you all have failed as leaders. You are frightened by your own people. You have become ruthless and blind to your own doing.

A high fence along the roads might hide these grievances from you as you drive to an opening of yet another multi-billion building.

You and the rest of you might think marble, glass and glitz can cure poverty but you are deeply mistaken.

Azerbaijan is tortured by and you alike.

It is unfortunate that in 21st century, we have people like you in power.

It is unfortunate Mr. President that you have failed your people and yourself...