Heart failure or torture, that is the question

A solider died. His name was Ceyhun Qubatov. He left his home approximately three months ago to fulfill his obligatory military service. He never returned.

His family was first told, he died of a heart failure. Strangely, Qubatov never had a heart condition, not according to medical reports prior to his military service, not during the service. 

Following desperate cries from his family (including photographs of the deceased that explicitly showed bruising over his body), an investigation is now launched, with some 15 suspected conscripts. 

Interesting isn't it? If it wasn't for Qubatov's family members' cries, this so- called "investigation" would never take place. I wonder whether those 15 suspected soldiers are actually suspects? Surely some of them will go to the tribunal, no one will dare to punish any of the high command military personnel who probably committed this treachery.

And of course, if initial report said Qubatov died of a heart failure, then why, all of a sudden there is an investigation, suspects?

It is just sad. A solider died. Life is lost. A young life. A life that had a future. But someone decided to end this life early. That someone will most likely never get punished for this, instead, someone else will rot somewhere in jail.

To commemorate the death of Qubatov and many more soldiers who "mysteriously" died (not during combat) of conditions as "heart failure" (and others) during their military service, a silent march is planned on January 12th at 16.00. A Facebook group [AZ] called "An end to death of soldiers" [with an impressive number of attendants already in its first day] reminds its readers that in no way this is a political protest, instead it should be seen as people's chance to say "Stop!" to this injustice, calling on anyone with conscience to come and join the crowd.

Incidentally one of the organizer's of the Facebook page, Ilkin Rustemzade reported of a police hunt on him. According to Rustemzade, his house, his relatives' homes, all received visits by local police officers in their "witch hunt" on him. Could it be a coincidence that all of a sudden he is on the radar? I wonder what is the explanation for this? Wait a second... I think we might already know this scenario- could it be hooliganism?

Liar, liar, pants on fire...

Azerbaijan is a country that recently gained a world wide reputation for a number of things. For starters, it is now known for being the highest spender on the pop and cheesy song contest known as Eurovision. It also made itself known for the Crystal Hall, the Flame Towers, the Old Town, the New Fountain Square and some bits of the downtown Baku. And of course, "Azerbaijan, the land of" phrase that captured attention of foreigners who were hearing the name of this country for the very first time. 

But then, as TV commercial ads were boasting of beautiful and mesmerizing Azerbaijan, something else caught the attention of outsiders. Azerbaijan wasn't just known for its nature, colorful culture and architecture. Behind that Azerbaijan was another, hidden country, where rights of its very own people are oppressed, where journalists are punished for their work, where free words and free spirits are under constant scrutiny and more... 

It is up to outsiders to decide which of the Azerbaijans they prefer- glitz and glamor and so- called "hidden treasures" or the country where real life conditions are not so glitzy and glamorous. For those who choose the latter, here is an interesting resolution adopted on June 26th (a month after the Eurovision contest) by the Committee of Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Council of Europe on political prisoners in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani government calls these reports and analysis black pr and lies. I call it simple reflection of the truth and reality. Facts are facts, no one (including Council of Europe) would make so much noise out of this if everything was as perfect as Azerbaijani government claims it to be.

You can read more about resolution here.

'Running scared: Azerbaijan's Silenced Voices'

This is one of the most recent reports about Azerbaijan and post- Eurovision situation with human rights, freedom of press, journalists and more.

To read this report in Azerbaijani click here.

Running Scared: Azerbaijan's Silenced Voices

Ali Hasanov all fired up

Google images

My first reaction to this article was "wait a sec... this can't be true... its a joke". Unfortunately it wasn't. Ali Hasanov, head of the social political department at the Presidential Administration said some things today that were simply unbelievable (not that he has ever said things that made sense before). It was a fired speech he gave nonetheless. For instance his toughest reaction was to human rights organizations as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Freedom House. Why? Well because they speak the truth and truth is one thing Azerbaijani authorities do not like. In fact, its a word erased from their vocabulary a long time ago. 

What Mr. Hasanov and the rest of the Azerbaijani authoritarian leadership fails to see is that the moment they change and adopt true values of democracy (or step down and let democracy take over) none of these institutions are going to rank Azerbaijai at its lowest. But hey, who am I talking about?! 

But the statement of the day was when Ali Hasanov actually said "Nowhere in the world the opposition is not as free as in Azerbaijan". Did he actually say that? I guess he did. I mean "Hello?!" where do you live Mr. Hasanov? Certainly not in a country where recent and previous protests were crashed and protesters arrested? 

European Parliament was also given its share of dragony fire. "Let them look at themselves, let them look at the crisis in the Eastern Europe" he said.

Oh, and Mr. Hasanov, perhaps you missed a big chunk of news and information about the Arab Uprisings. It wasn't caused by "multinational TV channels" but by firstly a young man who was sick of his government and set himself on fire. Unless "multinational TV channels" have some extraordinary powers of remotely setting people on fire you are so oblivious that its just funny and makes you look funny too. So you don't care about Azerbaijani people and their well being, at least have the decency not trash all those Tunisians, Egyptians, Libyans and many more who managed to change their governments and though still in the process, ensure that they no longer will be oppressed, tortured, silenced, arrested and simply ignored by their governments.

Your blindness Mr. Hasanov is just sickening. When will you stop and open your eyes and say something that will remotely resemble truth...

Azerbaijan, the land of...

We all saw tonight (26th of May) that Azerbaijan is the land of many things- fire, energy, friendships, lights and much more. Baku looked modern, full of life, comfort and luxury. The footage from various regions showed mountains, rivers, museums, carpets... But what audience didn't get to see is the real state of the country that just spent 800million on a kitsch Eurovision contest while its regions remain without water, electricity, gas and other key infrastructural needs. 

A report below prepared by Al Jazeera (with accompanied article) looks in just one of these problems- water issues and provision across the country with a focus on just one of the many places where people live with limited access to water. 

Azerbaijan valuing glitz over human rights (via storify)

'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

From human rights to diaspora- whatever works to hide the truth

In a recent statement made by Novruz Mammadov, Ilham Aliyev's chief foreign policy advisor, human rights were once again dismissed and replaced by the usual cry- baby- cry statements of US supporting Armenia and only Armenia as well as going as far as mocking speech writers of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton as illiterate and in denial. 

December 10th is celebrated as the International Human Rights Day, following the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. On this occasion the Secretary of State Hilary Clinton issued an appeal in which Azerbaijan was listed as a country in need for far more improvement within the human rights framework. This sparked (nor surprisingly) much negative reaction. So much, that Azerbaijan's Chief Foreign Policy advisor Novruz Mammadov (i wonder who is in need of temper management here) reacted... well... quite negatively. 

In his remarks, Novruz Mammadov tried changing the actual point of the mock to something completely unrelated- once again the usual saga that everyone is picking on us when they shouldn't because we are a very stable, democratic, free and independent country unlike Armenia (because everything only evolves around Armenia and Azerbaijan). 

Mammadov, accused US of not even ratifying the declaration themselves, as an official document (as if respect for human rights solely depends on a signature or adoption of any kind of document). He cited Occupy Movement as an example (which if he followed news closely have created a lot of public domestic debate in the US within the fair/unfair treatment debate). 

In a counter statement in support of the speech made by the Secretary of State, Azerbaijani- Americans for Democracy (AZAD) "issued a press release" whereby expressing their gratitude and urging US continue pressing Azerbaijan for its poor record on human rights (not to mention freedom of expression, religion and more). Here is a brief statement from their press release:

Unfortunately, these officials did not provide any explanation for their government's blatant disrespect towards the basic rights and freedoms of Azerbaijani citizens enshrined in the country's constitution and Azerbaijan's international obligations. Instead, they once again repeated the old propaganda [...] shamefully hiding behind Azerbaijan's refugees and the occupied territories as if that tragedy in any way can justify the oppression the Aliyev regime inflicts on the Azerbaijani people.

There are many things that are not stable, not democratic and not free in Azerbaijan. Human rights are only one of these. And indeed, we have a long way to go to change this. There is no need to hide behind the facades of energy resources or consequences of war because hiding won't solve the problem but only make it bigger and durable. The longer Azerbaijani government continues to ignore the realities of present day Azerbaijan, the longer Azerbaijan will be criticized by other institutions and countries on its poor record for many indicators (after all, one cannot buy every single official in every single country or institution). It is too late to hide the truth, but its not too late to face up and do something about it. I am just wondering when this glorious day will finally come to Azerbaijan...

Bakhtiyar Hajiyev's case remains unsettled

On Tuesday, December 6th, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan rejected Bakhtiyar Hajiyev's appeal. His lawyer, Sadig Bagirov, not surprised with the final ruling, announced his decision to take Hajiyev's case to the European Court of Human Rights. 

According to AzeriReport article, Hajiyev didn't attend the hearing due to "technical" issues (it turns out Azerbaijan is not so advanced when it comes to technology- the telegram sent the day before the hearing asking for Hajiyev's permission to be present at his own hearing miraculously never reached the court in time). 

During the hearing three motions were raised. Among them (and one of the most important ones) were a request to clarify "the compliance of the law on military service with the Azerbaijani Constitution" given Azerbaijani Constitution allows for alternative military service [Hajiyev was arrested on charges of evading military service] while the law on military service has not provided any provision on alternative service".

The decision indeed should come as no surprise. This happened before and will continue happening as long as Azerbaijan remains among the countries controlling its every single state institution, including the judicial system. 

Amnesty International's Campaign for Jabbar Savalanli

A new campaign was launched by the Amnesty International, calling for release of a student from Azerbaijan, Jabbar Savalanli, who was imprisoned and sentenced on bogus charges- the usual suspect, i.e., drug possession. 

You can "dislike" the charge and join the petition by simply signing pushing the "dislike" button on their campaign page (see below).

Jabbar, was imprisoned shortly after posting a status update on his Facebook- calling for mass protests against Azerbaijani incumbent regime. He was detained, forced to sign confession and then imprisoned. 

Please join the cause!

European Court of Human Rights and the case of Hajizada and Abdullayev

After sharing my previous post on Twitter, a user linked this report (see below, or click here) on Azerbaijan prepared by the Medial Legal Defense Initiative, Media Rights Institute, and Index on Censorship and addressed to the European Court of Human Rights on the cases of Emin (Milli) Abdullayev and Adnan Hajizada.

Azerbaijan and the European Court Of Human Rights

"Azerbaijan [not] working to strengthen civil society"

I am appalled. According to this article "Azerbaijan working to strengthen civil society" published in some local US paper, Azerbaijan "is a gradually evolving democracy with freedom of speech in which opposition parties are playing an increasingly outspoken and prominent role in civil society". Its a country where opposition newspapers "publish freely" and where "social and economic development was proceeding, along with religious tolerance [...]".

The article sums the results of a meeting organized by the Joint Working Group for the Implementation of International Human Rights Standards. They are based in Baku, Azerbaijan. This Joint Working Group, has all sorts of members- judges, economists, human rights experts and more. I am just curious which human rights expert in the right state of his/her mind could conclude that Azerbaijan is improving steadily its human rights record. Nor I can imagine an economist who could say there is fair distribution of economic revenues or that there is any other steadily developing economic sector other than oil and gas.

I would also very much like to ask Judge Jean- Paul Moerman, a member of Belgium's Constitutional Court who was at the meeting, where is he seeing the evolving commitment to freedom of expression in Azerbaijan? Release of Eynulla Fatullayev (whom he calls "opposition- leaning militant journalist") was a fight worth years. I wonder what Mr. Moerman have to say about other imprisoned journalists or activists or political party members. Perhaps in his mind this too is only a sign of a democratic state? 

How is it possible that someone living in Azerbaijan, seeing the bitter reality can actually say or write something like this?! If you are so certain of this transparent, democratic and honest reality then why not get this article published in a bigger newspaper? Why not Guardian or NYTimes or WashingtonTimes? 

Perhaps Mr. Shahin Camalov, the Co-Chair of the Joint Working Group and the rest of his colleagues are in a state of trans, pretending to pretend for the sake of pretending and not caring. Whatever it is that prompted this institution to write something like this shows how superficial, simple and unaware they are. They simply choose to say something for the sake of saying, hoping at best to get a pat on a shoulder. And you call yourselves a joint working group for the implementation of international human rights standards! All of what you have concluded in your so- called meeting, makes me want to question whether you even know what human rights are, let alone what  international human rights standards stand and call for... How shallow... how shallow gentlemen... 

'It is time to fly'

Thought I share this cool video on recent Spanish Revolution. The voice in the background belongs to David Icke's and the speech he gives is from his 2009 speech in Melbourne. The speech is really powerful and there is a lesson to learn from anyone I believe. Enjoy!

The hidden truth

When I left Baku last time, I left it literally covered in dust (and I mean something more close to a thick glaze of dust) from numerous, ongoing construction and renovation work all around the city (or more so in the main downtown area of the capital). And so during my most recent visit, the city took me by surprise. The dust settled and what was a construction and renovation site only few months ago, was now replaced with pretty alleys, new parks, polished buildings cleaned from years of accumulated dirt (unfortunately that was also inhaled by half of the Baku population while it was done).

And for a very brief moment, I thought to myself that its not all that bad. It looked clean, spacious, beautiful. But just like that I was snapped back into the reality- the hidden truth underneath those pretty looking streets, parks, buildings took over the feeling of brief satisfactory happiness...

Recently, I was approached by a young man from Azerbaijan at one of the conferences I was attending and asked what is the reason for me talking of Azerbaijan the way I usually do. Well, I hope you read this post dear F. (didn't feel disclosing your full name as I thought it might not be appropriate) because this is precisely why I speak of Azerbaijan the way I do. Because good life isn't just about pretty streets, renovated buildings (which I consider good initiative just not as important like say improving the situation with freedom of expression, human rights, and what not), uber expensive boutique shops and 5 star hotels built across the city.

I speak of Azerbaijan this way, because I would very much like to see that moment I shortly was overtaken by, exist for real. I want this country to be fair and just to its people. Its economy be transparent and distributed fairly (rather than used by certain individuals for their personal purposes or stacked away in some foreign banks or simply not accessible to the country en masse). Because I simply want truth and no more hidden reality. 

It might work perfectly for visitors who come to visit Azerbaijan (though that might not be the case anymore, give the recent visa changes) but not for its people. We all know that renovated facades look great (especially at night) but the actual life underneath those facades continues to rotten and fade away. Azerbaijan might have a lot of money and prosper day by day (based on numerous speeches of government officials) but the corruption, lies, distrust and degrading overall approach to the people and general welfare, is only a sign of a spoiled behavior, and definitely not something we should be proud of and pretend as if everything is just absolutely great...