Once upon a time, in an Aliyev land...

Once upon a time, in an Aliyev land, run by an Aliyev clan,
lived a society, oblivious to a plan
that an Aliyev clan will diminish their worth in a span
of just two decades, give or take.

But wait for a sec.!
For some, we are still a democracy,
Even if everyone knows its all a hypocrisy. 

We never knew a democracy,
We only knew of it,
In books, stories, and memories
From those who saw it, felt it, and lived it.

For us, on the other hand,
Little is left to demand.
Our voices are muzzled.
While our minds are hustled,
for even trying to dream and imagine
a future free from
lies, corruption, and nepotism.

So instead, we are stuck in a world of cynicism. 

Today, another activist went to jail,
Her cell is cold while she is frail.
She has spent her lifetime fighting but to no avail,
For she was not liked by those above
For she said things, under the thumb of
Those who hated her, and others like her

And there are more like her.
Forced behind bars, both physically and mentally.
In a country, where arrests have become a matter of revenge
On anyone who tried expressing their rage.

And so it ends, the story of a society, oblivious to a grand plan
That was in the making by Aliyev clan
Welcome, to a la la land
of amputated spirits, marching their way, to the unknown.

When in Vienna speaking about Internet Freedoms in Azerbaijan

I thought, after a very long silence and absence I share with you my talking points from a conference I just attended in Vienna organized by the OSCE Austria Chairmanship, Council of Europe and the Chairmanship of the Czech Republic in the Council of Europe. 

Lights, camera, action minus the action and camera with an exception of live stream camera and few photographers. 

On the panel "Determining the unlawful nature of third-party content – what does it mean in practice?" I tried to bring in the country-specific example since other panelists included a Facebook rep [who was pretty good]; two academics [one of them was the amazing Ben Wagner who was our moderator] and a lawyer. 

Surely Azerbaijan representation to the OSCE did not like that Azerbaijan was as she said "singled out" and requested that delegation is told ahead of time when their country is going to be singled out on a panel. 

She [it is actually pretty cool to see that the rep. of our mission or at least the person who attends most of these OSCE events is a woman, so yay to that, though nay to what she was saying] also responded to a statement made by the EU rep who mentioned Azerbaijan as a country of concern for the EU where internet freedoms are on a sliding scale.

I was also disputed, of course, by two male reps from Azerbaijan [one of whom claimed we were "friends on Twitter" before trashing my intervention in the plenary]. In fact, it was the first time that I was accused of working "in Armenia" and therefore "not in a position to provide an account of what is happening in Azerbaijan". 

Hmm... I have been accused of being Armenian, of working for Armenia, and with Armenia and so on but being told I work from Armenia was pretty new to me. 

I guess, all I can say to that gentleman is that check your facts. Although I am pretty sure he knew perfectly well where I live. Oh well. It is what it is.

So, now that I have shared juicy highlights from our government mouthpiece reps, I can now proceed to share with you some of the juicy highlights from my talk. 

There were a few overarching questions that I tried to address: 

- Are intermediaries in Azerbaijan equipped to balance fundamental human rights, and freedoms and relevant social interests at stake? 

- What does it mean for the separation of powers?

- With such an extensive power over various areas of content regulation, what are the consequences for internet freedom and in the governance of Internet? 

* Azerbaijan is certainly a case where intermediaries are not equipped to balance fundamental rights and freedoms, there is a weak separation of powers and as a result, the consequences for internet freedom have been rather grim. And if we are to look at a rate and scale of rights abuse inside the country, there is clear evidence of the real intentions and something tells me, freedoms online or offline are not in the picture. As a result, just as other forms of freedoms, internet freedom has been on the decline in Azerbaijan. 

* Independence of the intermediaries is jeopardized if we look at the ownership, transparency, and accountability of both the government and the internet intermediaries. 

* The recently renamed and restructured Ministry of communications and high technologies holds significant shares in a handful of leading internet service providers and the government is authorized to instruct companies to cut internet service under very broadly defined circumstances, including war, emergency situations, and national disasters. 

* Wholesale access to international gateways is maintained by companies with close ties to the government. Only two operators in the country, AzerTelecom, and DeltaTelecom, are licensed to connect international IP traffic. DeltaTelecom also owns the internet backbone and is the main distributor of traffic to other ISPs in the country. It's monopoly also extends over data storage where its stores national information resources. 

* The consequences of holding such a monopoly of country’s internet traffic was reflected in November 2015, when the country experienced its first internet blackout, that was caused by the fire at Delta Telecom data center. Another blackout took place in 2016 although not as bad as the previous year. One of the explanations provided for the last year’s blackout was related to internet providers being unable to cover their debt to Delta Telecom. 

What about some basic infrastructure data you might just as well ask? 

Internet penetration in Azerbaijan according to recent ITU report is around 77%. However, the quality and monopolized telecom infrastructure remain the main obstacle for better internet access across the country. 

Mobile internet is doing slightly better [the key here is "slightly"]. While the average costs have dropped for internet service significantly since 2011, there is still income discrepancy when it comes to affordability. A World Bank report in 2015 concluded that the average household in Azerbaijan lower income bracket which makes 40% of the total population income, would need 21% of their monthly disposable income to afford the cheapest mobile broadband package and 28% of the cheapest fixed broadband package. 

Now bear in mind, these calculations were done before the two currency devaluations in Azerbaijan we saw last year. 

There are over 50 ISPs in the country, a little over half of the market (56%) controlled by the three state-owned companies. 

One state provider AzTelekomnet has ownership ties to the Ministry of Communication and High Technologies while one of its shareholders, include Azerfon, which has links to the president’s daughters. 

The country’s leading mobile service has been found to have connections with President Aliyev’s daughters too. 

The problem with the rest of the ISPs is that they are still controlled by the Ministry of Communication and High Technologies. The biggest concern is the authority national security services hold over telecom companies, requiring them to make available their equipment and special facilities. 

Mobile companies are known to surrender the content of users’ phone conversations without a court order. 

In 2014, Citizen Lab reported that Azerbaijan along with 20 other governments was suspected of using RCS (remote control system) spyware sold by the intelligence technology and surveillance company Hacking Team. This spyware allowed anyone with access to active a computer’s webcam, and microphone, and steal videos, documents, contact lists, emails and any other form of documentation on the computers. 

In August of 2015, the ministry of communication said it will require some social media and instant messaging services as a Facebook messenger, WhatsApp, skype, and Viber to obtain a licence in order to operate in Azerbaijan. For now, this has not been done although, discussions are already worrying. this year, one parliament member suggested users of popular social media networks in Azerbaijan register with IDs before posting any comment online to prevent “online harassment”. 

So whats next?

In 2014, UNESCO study on internet intermediaries’ relation to digital rights showed that the levels of transparency of ISPs on matters related to privacy and surveillance are very low. And in countries with questionable ownership, this relation becomes even riskier if not raises questions and alarm. 

In Azerbaijan, we are yet to see full transparency in this regard both from internet intermediaries and government. 

We are also yet to see introduction and adoption of specific regulations to ensure net neutrality. Most importantly, we are yet to see the government take necessary steps to end all forms of impunity for violence against online activists, journalists, and bloggers. 

Instead, what we are seeing is further shrinking space in a monopolized system. 

In March of this year, amendments were introduced to the law on “Information, informatization, and protection of information” (shortly law of information) and on “telecommunication”. Authorities said these were necessary amendments in order to ensure regulation of the internet. One parliament member said, “We are talking about banning the propaganda of violence, religious extremism, incitement to national, religious and racial hatred, the disclosure of state secrets, abuse and slander, breach of privacy and family life”. 

The changes call on the owners of the websites, to immediately remove the illegal content after receiving a warning from a relevant state institution. In case of content is not removed within 8 hours, the website owners can be taken to court. And in case the content is a threat to state and society, the site can be closed without a court order. These amendments were adopted pretty much as soon as they were introduced. 

And already in May we saw blocked access to some of the independent and opposition news platforms as well as opposition online TV channels based on a court order [as I was corrected by the Azerbaijan delegation rep. to the OSCE]. What the official delegate forgot to mention was that their owners were not given any notice. Nor were they provided with any court orders. 

So what does all of this talk mean? Well for once, it means, we should be worried. We should be worried about the extension of Azerbaijani government intervention on the Internet and things it can and willing to do to get in the way of any kind of dissent. 

You see, up until this year [2017], the government refrained from engaging in extensive blocking or filtering of online content, often relying on legal, economic and social pressures to discourage critical media coverage or political activism online and offline. 

In November of last year, we saw how a number of opposition and independent websites (which are currently blocked for access) reported access and loading speed issues. These websites included azadliq.info (website for an opposition newspaper); Voice of America, Meydan TV (Berlin-based dissident media platform); Azadliq Radio (Azerbaijan Service for Radio Free Europe) - all of these platforms experienced some form of artificially engineered bandwidth throttling and at least 6 cases of network congestion as well as deep packet inspection mechanisms in all incoming connections into the country. 

Also in November of last year, Azerbaijani parliament adopted two new legislative amendments which increase penalties for online defamation and insult. According to article 148 posting slander or insult on an internet information resource while using fake names, profiles, or accounts are punishable by imprisonment for up to one year. According to article 323 smearing or humiliating honor and dignity of the president in public statements, publicly shown products, or mass media is punishable by up to three years imprisonment or fines as high as 750EUR (1500AZN). 

In 2013, a local court ruled that social media was subject to libel laws as a form of mass media when a former bank employee was sentenced to one year of corrective labor for critiquing his former employer on Facebook. 

Defamation committed online falls under the criminal code, punishable by up to six months in prison. While the prosecutor and the ministry of the interior can initiate an investigation based on content posted on Facebook. 

This year [2017], during the hosting of the Islamic Solidarity Games, users in Azerbaijan reported problems using WhatsApp, Facebook messenger, and Skype. Authorities at first did not respond to reports, however, later explained the measures were taken by them, for the reasons of national security. 

This year we also saw blocking of international websites- since September 2017 access to OCCRP’s website remains blocked. Few words - Azerbaijan Laundromat, slush fund, corruption, bribery - might serve as explainers to reasons why this is happening. 

Recent legislative amendments and continued harassment of netizens offline for their activities online raises the stakes of possible throttling with more online platforms and internet as a whole. Not to forget that these legal changes come atop of reports of arrested, imprisoned and persecuted journalists and bloggers in Azerbaijan. 

In February of this year, a court in Baku sentenced blogger Mehman Huseynov on defamation charges making him first citizen journalist to be prosecuted openly for defamation. 

In a country where freedoms and all forms of dissent (online and offline) are heavily cracked down and punishable by bogus charges, hefty fines, and long jail times, it is difficult to talk about any kind of independence let alone independence of internet intermediaries.

Applause*

Thank you*

#netfreedom17

Vice Presidency for your own, intimidation for others

So the news of Mehriban Aliyeva, the wife of current president of Ilham Aliyev being appointed first VP traveled fast and for many has been a matter of ridiculing. 

It is pretty easy system- you are from the family, you get pampered, you get to do what you want, but if you are not... Then it is a whole other story. 

Just like the story of Netherlands based video blogger Ordukhan Babirov whose family members have been detained and questioned over the blogger's political activities outside of Azerbaijan. 

Or the story of Germany based rapper Jamal Ali. 

Or the story of 100 something political prisoners. 

Or like the stories of recently detained and sentenced to administrative detention activists: Rahim Shaliyev, Amil Mammadzade, Elchin Ismayilli, Farasat Ahmadov, Elvin Behremov and Namig Abbasaliyev. 

Or like the stories of so many others whose names we don't know. 

Yes, it is good to be part of the Aliyev family and be untouchable. 

Ilham Aliyev is after Azerbaijanis living abroad

It all started a while back. Arrests of opposition party members during the mid 2000, beatings, and persecution. Nosey journalists had to pay a hefty fine. Elmar Huseynov was murdered in front of his house in 2005. Then came more crackdown. In 2009 Azerbaijan had the referendum. Elections meant nothing, if not a little theatre performance Aliyev regime was extremely skilled with the most recent ones worthy of an Oscar if you ask me. 

While the Eurovision song contest in 2012 put Azerbaijan on the map, it did so with all its dirty business. By this point, there were a few investigative stories around to expose corruption and behind the doors businesses of the ruling family members as well as ministers and so on. 

In the meantime, just as corruption and personal wealth of the few grew, freedoms disappeared. 

Aliyev and his cronies watched closely. Or maybe he didn't because he is too busy for that, and his minions watched closely instead. They launched a new wave of crackdown. Everyone was to be punished if it contradicted what the government was saying and doing. It did not matter any more if you were a journalist, an activist, a youth activist, a human rights defender. Everyone was a target but the officials. 

I don't have to remind you of the prominent cases that were all over the news in 2014 and into 2016. 

The releases that seemed like the good news (even though they should not have happened in the first place) brought a wave of bad news soon after. 

It was time to re-fill, replace the spots in prisons. 

We thought it could not get uglier. When 20 somethings were sentenced to 10 years in jail for drawing graffiti (!!!) the 50 something judges who have carried out these sentences went back to their homes, comfortable, warm, with extra credit for lip service in their bootlick banks. 

In the meantime, family members of those who have fled the country were (and are) terrorised by the authorities (and surely no one has been punished for this either), called into questioning, and eventually faced with no other choice but to denounce their family members. Daughters, sons, just like that, lost their families not because they died (which also happened) but because their families were forced by the circumstances. 

And it got uglier. 

When mother of a rapper was detained for four days and questioned for a video her son released forcing him to remove the video from YouTube. 

And just yesterday [February 19] an Azerbaijani activist and video blogger Ordukhan Teymurkhan living abroad received a phone call from police officer in Baku telling him "had he been a man, his sisters would not be detained". 

Here is a bit more in detail about the case: 

So here is a reminder for anyone out there who thinks Aliyev is a good guy, or that things are changing for the better in Azerbaijan. Aliyev is not a good guy. He never was, he never will. And he will continue to do whatever he wants because there are no checks and balances. And honestly, I don't know how else to explain the fact that he has never had even the slightest of the intention to change. Again, Aliyev deserves Oscars for such an outstanding performance for making many believe things might change. 

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.

A YouTube video, a rapper, a mother and police

What do all of these have in common you ask? Well if the case is about Azerbaijan it is obvious. A rapper who made a video and posted it on YouTube is now seeing his mom (and relatives) round up by the police for questioning. Police is demanding the rapper takes down the video. The rapper says he won't budge.

Jamal Ali, is a young Azerbaijan musician who have had his share of torture, beating and arrest. In an interview I did with Jamal back in 2015 for a project called Freedom Beat, we spoke about his experience in the aftermath of the arrest and the humiliation he had to endure.

"They place a bag over my head, handcuffed me from behind, sat me on a chair and extended my legs onto another chair. They took off my shoes and then started beating me with a rubber truncheon over my heels. This lasted for about three hours the first time, then another two hours the second time", he told me.

Jamal was 24 at the time. This was in March 2012, two months later Azerbaijan was to host annual kitsch Eurovision pop song contest.

Had it not been for the Eurovision contest, Jamal fears he would have ended up in jail on a much longer sentence. He was released ten days later and warned not to make songs or sing about the president and the authorities anymore.

Shortly after the incident Jamal left Azerbaijan and moved to Berlin where he continued his work. And work he did. Jamal released this video [see below] on December 31, 2016.

Guess what the song is about? Of course it is about authoritarian regime in Azerbaijan, and how it goes after activists and more.

This time, because Jamal himself was not in the country, the authorities have gone after his family members, including his mother.

The family was told Jamal must remove the video. Jamal says he has not intention to do so.

Jamal's work either as an independent singer or throughout his years singing with various rap bands always focused on challenges average Azerbaijanis faced in the country- the poverty, illegal demolitions, the abuse of rights, crackdown on free speech and democracy and so on.

His gift to his fans right before his departure from Azerbaijan was a song called “Vermisel” [Noodles].

The song was about illegal demolitions, people left without homes ahead of the Eurovision song contest combined with what happened to him during his detention.

   

“Woke up in the morning


Had "vermicelli" [noodles]


At lunch I had same thing


I said enough is enough


And went out to do something



I was beaten for what I said


Shoved into the police car


They showed on AZTV [1st governmental channel]
and called us bandits



What? Am I not right?


My house is demolished


I'm homeless


No roof over my head


Is Eurovision what I need now?



Cameras are all over the place


Someone is watching us


Here is the message to them:
Saint middle finger



You call yourself citizen


"No stone left on stone"


The fountain you are proud of


Is made with your tax money



Dudes are working hard


It's 5 on records, 15 in their pockets


The dirt is eaten anyway


Why am I in charge for that?!



Dear Hajibala [Baku mayor]


What the hack you are doing, man?


If you have big passion for demolishing 


Go demolish "his" houses in Dubai



Cameras are all over the place


Someone is watching us


Here is the message to them:
Saint middle finger.” 

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.

Azerbaijan developments ahead of September Referendum

Looks like this list will just get longer and longer. 

I started compiling list of arrested, detained (as well as released) activists in Azerbaijan since August ahead of the upcoming referendum. 

It is work in progress. 

Natig Jafarli arrested August 13, 2016 (REAL movement)- sentenced to 4 months in pretrial detention; charges: illegal entrepreneurship and abuse of power (Released September 9, ; 

*Bakhtiyar Hajiyev fined in the amount of 100AZN for "petty hooliganism";

Elgiz Gahraman, arrested August 13, 2016 (N!DA)- sentenced to 4 months in pretrial detention on charges of drug possession (later interrogated for alleged links to Gulen movement); 

Elshen Gasimov arrested August 15, 2016 (REAL movement)- sentenced to 7 days in administrative detention for resisting police [released];

Togrul Ismayilov arrested August 15, 2016 (REAL movement)- sentenced to 7 days in administrative detention for resisting police [released]; 

Turgut Gambar detained August 18, 2016 (N!DA)- released; 

Aytac Ahmadova detained August 18, 2016 (journalist)- released;

Ilgar Valiyev detained August 18, 2016 (journalist)- released; 

Parviz hashimli detained August 18, 2016 (journalist, former political prisoner)- released but fined for "petty hooliganism" in the amount of 50AZN;

Fuad Ahmadli August 18, 2016 (Popular Front Party member)- accused of abuse of power; appeal on pre-trial detention is rejected on Aug 24. In addition Ahmadli was accused of Article 302 and 308 of the Criminal Code, violation of the criminal investigation activity and abuse of power respectively. Police also tried linking Ahmadli's case to Gulen investigations accusing him for providing Gulen network with personal information of mobile phone subscribers while Ahmadli worked as call center operator at Azerfon. 

Gadim Bakirov August 18, 2016 (Popular Front Party member)- sentenced to 25 days in administrative detention;

Vasif Fatiyev August 19, 2016 (Popular Front Party member) detained then released August 22; 

Samir Ibrahim August 20, 2016 (Musavat party member) detained then released the same day; 

Novruz Guluzade August 20, 2016 (Azerbaijan Nation Party)- detained then released the same day; 

Faig Amirli August 20, 2016 (Azadliq Newspaper, Finance director)- charged with Article 168 of the Criminal Code (violation of citizen's rights while performing religious activity); 

Ismayil Rasulov detained August 24, 2016 (Popular Front Party member)- sentenced to 30 days of administrative detention for resisting police (Rasulov is Karabakh war veteran); Released August 30 after public outcry to an arrest of war veteran;

Azadliq Newspaper does not print its new issue due to outstanding debt- August 28, 2016;

Mehman Huseynov August 29 (blogger)- detained, then released;  

Masud Asgar August 29 (N!DA activist)- detained, then released; 

Samir Asadli August 29 (N!DA activist)- detained, then released; 

*All three- Mehman, Masud and Samir were taken to the police after filming the conditions at the local hospital. Mehman is known for posting controversial videos exposing corruption, inequality and other social and economic problems across the country on his video channel. 

Also on August 29, it is two year anniversary since journalist Seymur Hezi's unlawful arrest; 

August 30, 2016- Movsum Samadov, political prisoner begins hunger strike in protest to proposed constitutional amendments and the upcoming referendum after which he is placed in penal isolation ward. 

Also on August 30, Freedom House launches new "#" dedicated to President Ilham Aliyev ahead of Referenedum: #desperate 

September 6, 2016- court in Baku extended pre-trial detention period of young activist Bayram Mammadov by additional two months. Mammadov was arrested in May on charges of drug posession;

Also on September 6, writer and author of numerous books Akram Aylisli was invited to the police as part of the on-going criminal case launched against him at the end of March of this year for alleged assault against government employee at Azerbaijan International Airport. 

September 8, 2016- former prosecutor Rufat Safarov who resigned as a sign of protest to the on-going corruption sentenced to 9 years in prison on bribery charges (Safarov's father happens to be one of the founder's of the ruling party);

Also on September 8, 2016, court in Baku began the hearing in the case of youth activist Giyas Ibrahimov. Ibrahimov was arrested in May on charges of drug possession together with Bayram Mammadov. However both men exposed torture and ill treatment during their detention in their detailed descriptions. The two were arrested after drawing graffiti on the statue of the late president Haydar Aliyev. 

September 9, 2016- Parliament plans to grant "investigators" rights to search without search warrants.

Also on September 9, police questioned editor in chief of opposition Azadliq newspaper Rahim Hajiyev. He is the fourth Azadliq newspaper staff to be questioned following questioning of Vidadi Mammadov, Khayal Babayev and editor Sujaddin Sharifov. 

Interested in an all-expense paid trip to Azerbaijan? Here is your chance, don't miss out!

No joke! Turns out, the Ministry of Youth and Sports says [AZ] they will cover expenses of guests coming for the Youthvision-the Eurovision for young singers scheduled to take place June 22-24, they are just not saying how much this is going to cost the country's coffers. 

The irony in all this is that, Azerbaijan's economy devalued twice. The ministry of education recently spoke about "problems" in funding Azerbaijani students abroad. And yet, we are yet to pay for another all-expense paid visit (just like it was during the European Games last year). 

But it is ok. Because no one in Azerbaijan is going to say anything about it and the regime will continue abusing their power because they know there won't be resistance. And then they will start another mini war with Armenia and will shift the focus like they always do. 

Speaking in Davos in January 2016, President Aliyev said the the low in oil prices was "psychologically difficult". Wonder whose psychology he was referring to here? His? His family's? His cronies'? Because surely, it must be extremely difficult for their psychology to handle the reality that there will be less money to steal. And looks like they have determined a new strategy- if there is less for them, there will certainly be nothing for the people. 

You see, President Aliyev is all about moral barometers- we are better than X, Y, Z country although more often than not, the President's favorite country to compare Azerbaijan with, is neighboring Armenia boasting about the budget difference and the spending.

What he and people around him tend to forget (or neglect) however, is that whatever big investment is brought into the country- the Crystal Hall, the Stadiums, the Malls and the upscale shops- they ain't for the public consumption. Precisely because of the inequality and class difference that was created by and large during the Aliyev leadership (first his father, and later his son). 

Who will benefit from coming to Azerbaijan for three days in an all-expense paid trip in June? Tourists! Yes, they might spend some manats here and there, but by and large it will be the visitors. If the Ministry of Youth and Sports is so generous- why not spend that money on paying for Azerbaijanis vacation at home or abroad? 

But until this ever becomes possible (i am lucky to live outside of the country, because who knows, my head might get chopped off for saying all this) dear visitors who will attend the Youthvision or the Formula 1 race, enjoy beautiful Azerbaijan or at least what is left of it but don't forget the country you are visiting is pretty nasty when it comes to treating its own people and watching out for their well-beings. 

Dear optimists and enthusiasts- Azerbaijan ain't improving!

If you think regime in Azerbaijan is softening on freedoms and rights issues with the amnesty of 14 political prisoners you are deeply deeply mistaken. 

First of all, it is simply the old school method of putting on a veil ahead of some international event. In the past, some described this practice in Azerbaijan as "revolving door policy". One goes out, another goes in. 14 go out, I am pretty sure, the regime will soon enough find replacements for them.

Aliyev is soon to arrive in DC for a nuclear summit, so he had to do something, the man is tired of criticism and scrutiny. So what a tired dictator does when he wants to get some of the heat off? Release some prisoners, change legislation or do something else.

All of rights watchdog community said immediately after the release that this was in no way a sign of good will. It was simply something the regime did ahead of the US visit. 

Second of all, Azerbaijan's record of complying with its responsibilities to international treaties ain't stellar. So it should come as no surprise that there is a draft bill at the parliament on executing international decisions on the protection of human rights and freedoms by Azerbaijan. If you are not sure what it means then think European Court of Human Rights. Then think about all of their decisions including the one about political prisoner Ilgar Mammadov, then insert this new draft and you will hopefully get the picture. 

Yes... Azerbaijan has no intention of improving. In fact, it is only getting worse. So to all those enthusiasts and optimists out there- spare yourselves from another disappointment and prepare for the worse.

Oh and in case you missed the news, two journalists were told they cannot leave the country last week because they had travel bans. For what and since when they have not been told. But who cares, this is Azerbaijan, where the regime does not need any explanations. 

How government of Azerbaijan educates its outspoken bloggers?

There are few things the government of Azerbaijan is really good at. Intimidation, pressure, crackdown on dissent and so on- are some of its signature moves. But there is more including arrests, beating and murder. 

But there is also the “ethical conversations” which take place between officials of Ministry of Internal Affairs (sometimes also by notorious Band Hotel) and the activists. Often they disappear for some time while the Ministry staff "works on" what Russians would describe as “vospitaniye” [воспитание] which translates into “education” but doesn’t really do justice to the actual meaning of its word (although if you think of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall" you would get a better idea). 

They “explain” and “talk sense” into these men that what they are doing is essentially wrong and they should not be complaining, creating noise, and disagreeing with what government says and does. 

This time, the representatives of Ministry of Internal Affairs were trying to talk sense into a young blogger, Khalid Khanlarov. The young man was arrested few days ago and sentenced to 25 days in administrative detention for resisting police on January 23. 

Khanlarov was administrator of a popular Facebook page “Ditdili” that was critical of the government. And so it is obvious that it wasn’t him resisting the police but the authorities resisting Khanlarov’s outspokenness. 

His lawyer Shahla Humbatova says her client was forced to write a confession and in return he was given the 25 days otherwise she says he was threatened with 6-7 years sentence. 

Khanlarov’s mother was also called into the police. “Your son will meet a man named Farid from Ministry of Internal Affairs”, said the deputy chief to Khanlarov’s mother during the meeting. Later, Khanlarov speaking to his mother told her this meeting, where he was “educated”. After that he was taken to police station no.4 in Binagadi district from where he was taken to the court and received the 25 days sentence. 

So just fyi- it isn't just glitzy events Aliyevistan is good at while hiding the rest of the truth behind high walls [aka belt of happiness], when it comes to muting dissent, it can make money off consulting others how to do this best. 

Protests, rallies, investigations- you name it, chronology of Azerbaijan's internal storm

Chronology of protests and other events sharking up the country

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 23

• Few foreign companies decide to leave Azerbaijan. Among them are French Technip Maritime Overseas LTD; Italian Maccaferri Azerbaijan and Turkey's Anel Telecommunication Electronic Systems 

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.

January 29

• Owner of Pharmacy chain Elmir Maharov called into the questioning based on the charges of "Artificial price increase and other illegal behavior". Avis operated in Azerbaijan since 1998. It has around 10 pharmacies across Baku.  

January 30

• after a few social media users announced plans for a protest in Zaqatala they were arrested. In total 7 people were arrested (including those who re-posted the original posts).  

February 1

• TexnikaBank license revoked 
• renters of shops at Karvan mall in Sumgayit continued protesting against high rent fees. Promises to drop fees that were made few days ago never happened.
• Musavat party activist Elvin Pashayev remained behind bars as Appeal court dismissed appeals of Pashayev's innocense
• Similarly deputy of Azerbaijan Popular Front Fuad Gahramanli was also left behind bars as Appeal court dismissed the motion of releasing Gahramanli under house arrest. 
• reports of a female resident of Aghcabedi self immolating due to outstanding bank loan 

February 2

• joining angered salesmen from Karvan mall in Sumgayit are the shop owners of "Moscow" mall in Baku. But this time, instead of raising their voices or yelling they have simply removed all goods from the counters. And this is how they are protesting increased rents which they are unable to pay.  

February 4

• vendors at the market known as "8km" went on strike protesting increase in rents 

February 5

• story of a man trying to commit suicide circulates online, he is rescued. complaining about pressure against him and his business the man said he had enough and hence tried ending his life. He is known to be Karabakh war veteran.
• also on February 5, residents in Ganja storm the building of the ruling New Azerbaijan party youth wing for the job fair. The fair was postponed due to overwhelming turnout. Police was reported to force people out of the building. According to AzadliqRadiosu there are 3569 unemployed in the country's second largest city. 

February 6

• 18 employees at the penitentiary service were dismissed from their jobs while 322 brought to justice for various crimes including acts of torture, abuse of power, corruption 

* By now, 11 banks stopped working in Azerbaijan while 3 announced their decision to merge

Azerbaijan continues to embarrass itself, and it is no longer funny

Few days ago, I received news that renowned British human rights lawyer Amal Clooney will represent the case of Khadija Ismayilova, Azerbaijan’s unlawfully jailed top investigative reporter at the European Court of Human Rights. Clooney together with Nani Jansen from the Media Legal Defense Initiative will act as Co-Council for Khadija and challenge the government of Azerbaijan on the grounds that Ismayilova’s extended pre-trial imprisonment violates the European convention. 

I was thrilled by the news. But I also knew that very soon pro government mouthpieces in Azerbaijan would start labeling Clooney and Jansen “Armenians” trying to damage the country’s international image as a country of tolerance, justice and thriving democracy. I also feared this would have an impact on my friend’s case. 

It didn’t take long before the theatrics unfolded. Trend.az, one of many puppet media outlets in Azerbaijan said, “A. Clooney is of Armenian dissent and represented Armenia before Swiss, Armenian, French and European Court of Human Rights on ‘Armenian genocide’. All the while “forgetting” to mention that Amal Ramzi Alamuddin was born in Beirut and that she moved to London together with her family during the civil war in Lebanon. 

Some of Amal Clooney’s high profile cases include WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Yuliya Tymoshenko, and Canadian-Egyptian journalist Mohamed Fahmy- one of three Al-Jazeera journalists detained in Egypt and sentenced to 7 years. 

But the story on Trend.az does not mention any of that, nor did Azernews.az or many other outlets. “So, deeply committed to anti-Turkic ideals Amal Clooney now has taken to Azerbaijan, first to prove her loyalty to Armenian lobbyists and second, to undersign another big case without caring who wins”, bashed the article on Azernews. 

Refraining from bashing but sticking to Clooney’s work on the case of Armenia was also brought up in another local paper 525.az. 

This kind of slander is not uncommon in Azerbaijan. Often critics of the government get labeled various kinds of names and affiliations ranging from being Western agents to spies and last but not least traitors. Everyone who is critical of the government at home or abroad is an Armenian. In my recent piece for Open Democracy I tried illustrating how desperate the authorities in Azerbaijan are to cling to this naïve if not ridiculous accusation each time the country’s deteriorated democracy, human rights or freedom of expression record is spotted and criticized. 

So why continue sticking to this nonsense and endure embarrassment even further? This is merely a sign of weakness and inability to state facts indicating fragility not only of the whole system on which the government of Azerbaijan operates but also how biased if not completely feeble its apologists, media and advocates are. 

In the meantime, the European Court decided to prioritize two more of Khadija’s cases- the violation of privacy [secret camera footage] and the failure of the authorities to properly investigate and prosecute- according to Media Defense Initiative. 

Khadija also confirmed that prominent human rights lawyer will represent her case at the ECHR. Speaking to her lawyer Fariz Namazli Khadija said she agreed to Clooney’s offer because of her “courage” while defending Al-Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy in 2014. 

Khadija Ismayilova was detained on December 5, 2014. Her original charge was her involvement in allegedly pushing a man to attempt suicide. But absurdity of these charges was so clear that even the authorities knew they could not keep Ismayilova in jail for long on this bogus accusation. After extending Ismayilova’s detention by additional two months, she was charged with a series of new “economic charges” ranging from tax evasion, to abuse of power and illegal entrepreneurship. In September 2015 Ismayilova was sentenced to 7.5 years in jail. 

But there was no attempt to suicide, nor were there any economic violations, these charges were the byproduct of the wild imagination of Azerbaijani officials afraid of Khadija’s work exposing government corruption in this small oil rich country. 

Perhaps, it is not surprising then that it is this wild imagination that keeps the country’s officials detached from the reality, stuck in a world of conspiracy theories and made up enemies all the while sticking to what they know and do best- humiliate, intimidate and silence.

Dispatches from Azerbaijan: protests, unemployment in Aliyevland

This is the moment when I would love to have my trolls all lined up in orderly fashion (although I doubt they have the skills for that) and shove it into their faces all the crap they have been giving me about "the real life in Azerbaijan". You know, the things they said about wonderful living conditions, prosperity and all the rest of the bull shit they liked to talk about. Frankly, it wasn't just them talking about, its all of the government officials.

But since I don't have this wonderful as it may be opportunity I will just share a few updates about whats happening in my lovely home and how desperate the situation really is -unlike the crap of trolls and government officials. 

Lets start with protests in regions. 

January 12, in several regions of Azerbaijan people took the streets. They were angry naturally. Their main complaint is unemployment and price hikes. 

Aghcabedi, Siyazan, Fuzuli, the city of Liman in Lenkoran region, Ujar are the regions where people took the streets. There are reports to prevent further uprising the authorities have sent internal troops to Sheki and Guba as well.

Authorities instead of addressing people's grievances resolved the matter the way they always do- force against its own people. Internal troops were sent into these towns. They were authorized to use force and so they did- tear gas was abundant and so were rubber bullets from what the pictures said. Which in fact is actually illegal but hey when did we hear anything legal happening in Azerbaijan?! 

In the meantime, one city official said the prices have gone down not just in one region but across the whole country- but she also said she doesn't know by how much because she doesn't go shopping- weird, I guess she has some kind of telepathic powers- she sees through the walls and the kilometers of land, visualizing shops with decreased prices.

But the prices are indeed growing and they have no intention of stopping. In a tea producing nation, a kilo of tea cost 4AZN but now it has gone up to 11AZN 80cents. Sack of flour costs 28AZN- the price has gone up by 10AZN. 

Surely the people would be angry. They have been living in these conditions for a long time now, it was just a matter of time until they exploded. And unless there are "ground breaking" reforms (i love that word, ground-breaking- yes lets break the ground so the officials responsible for bringing this country into its current state all fall down through the cracks and get lost) life will continue being tough for the average people. 

Because obviously something is really wrong in a country where people are unable to afford life. 

One of the protesters tried committing suicide. Because at the age of 38, the man is unable to provide bread for his family. Yes, that glitz and glamour you see in advertisements on TV and airports abroad, isn't all.

We are in far more shit people...

Most (if not all) exchange units closed. While the Central Bank says it is the result of high activity in currency exchange. A friend shared this picture today:

AzərTürkBank bu dəqiqə
Posted by Turxan Qarishga on Wednesday, 13 January 2016

"Impressive budgets" in a country with 67$ minimum wage

Found some impressive comparative data on what Azerbaijan spent on its first European Games (and looks like the last since there are no other host candidates and I very much hope it stays this way- we really don't need another dictatorship taking such an endeavor on). But don't get too excited. We are not talking about real progress here. Although in a way it is- the government of Azerbaijan wins gold in the category of how best to rummage through budgets and reserves intended for the country's future. No wonder why we were so keen on hosting these games.

Anyhow, I have written enough about the games and so have many others who have been critical of the games, the whole concept of these games and of course, the state of life in Azerbaijan amid these games.

I found this perfect infographic (which I somehow missed originally) prepared by Sport For Rights who also have a website with valuable info and facts on the crackdown underneath all the Aliyev glitz. 

These are indeed impressive numbers especially against the deteriorating state of health care and social services in a country where minimum wage for 2015 was announced to be 105AZN which is approximately 67USD. Oh yea, we are rich and we are famous, but our people have to literally survive from month to month on these breadcrumbs.

Just another shitty day in Azerbaijan

Its just one of those days. Shitty days. When you are left speechless and hopeless and weak and don't know what to do, what to say. 

Today, another veteran journalist in Azerbaijan got sentenced to 6 years in jail. Another bogus charge of course. And another good person behind bars. 

Also today, President Aliyev pardoned 210 prisoners. And while many of political prisoners, their families, their loved ones hoped and waited for at least some good news nothing happened. None of the political prisoners made it on to the list. They will have to wait for the next pardon (possibly in March), when his highness will have the mercy to forgive these innocent people who should not have been in jail in the first place. 

Arastun Orujlu, political scientist said today that it would have been good to have at least some of the prisoners released especially to get in the way of the recently discussed sanctions.  

Parliament member Malahat Ibrahimqizi on the other hand claims that those pardoned deserve a second chance because these people have accepted their sins and have become healthy individuals eager to be freed. "The reason these people were pardoned was because they regret their crimes. As for those talking about political prisoners should not turn the pardon into some kind of political bargain".  

So basically it is absolutely ok to have people who have done drugs, sold drugs, killed people, and stole from people released while keep people who have never hurt a single soul, who have only spoken truth and have done wonderful, good and rights things in jail because they refuse to accept the "crimes" they never committed? Is that what she means by "healthy individuals"?

Bravo! And these are the people who "represent" the nation in the parliament, making decisions, adopting laws, and "caring" for the people. I guess she is just one of those "healthy individuals" herself.

She should have met the families of political prisoners then today. I think that would have really shown her the reality of stupidity of her words! 

She should have heard what blogger Omar Mammadov's parents had to say about the decision. "I do not understand why they are treating their own people this way? Why this cruelty? At least they should have the decency to come and say why they are being so cruel?", said Mammadov's father shortly after he too realized his son was not going to join his family this year either. 

Others blamed it on the sanctions. It was because of the mounting pressure that the government decided to retaliate commented one of the members of the working group on human rights in charge of compiling and presenting a list of prisoners to the government (strangely this group doesn't recognize the list of 93 political prisoners compiled by another group of rights defenders and journalists whose authors are currently in jail with an exception of Leyla Yunus). 

But this decision has nothing to do with the sanctions. Aliyev is simply showing muscle at the expense of innocent people and their hopes. Because this wicked game he is playing is the only understanding he has- because he is afraid that if he pardons political prisoners today, he will be viewed as a weak leader among his own kind and perhaps one day will be challenged himself. Because he knows no other way. And because he doesn't give a damn about any of those individuals. And because he prefers to have thugs and thieves roam around the country because they will never challenge Aliyev.  

And this is essentially what Aliyev fears the most- the power of wisdom and good will these people actually have. 

Something tells me there will be many more shitty days to come...

Azerbaijan's political prisoners- 93 and counting?!

Even though the officials in Baku dismiss any claims about the existence of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, a working group on human rights concluded yesterday an updated list, with names of 93 individuals. 

Following their meeting yesterday, the group said 3 out of 80 people who were on the list as of May 2015 were released. But the list was expanded to include new names. 

The list of political prisoners is updated based on the criteria of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly resolution adopted in 2012. Based on this criteria, 16 more names were added to the previous list making the total number of political prisoners in the country 93. 

An official pardon decree is expected in the following days. A different working group compiled its own list with 22 names. Arzu Abdullayeva, one of the members of this working group, said their list includes the names of prisoners of conscience and activists from various civil society organizations. 

But this working group does not recognize the list compiled by the working group who authored the first list of political prisoners (with over 90 names). 

Azerbaijani leadership desperately trying to fill up its depleted budget and is revamping its internal security

Fines, and lots of them is what Azerbaijani citizens are getting this year from Santa Aliyev. They are also getting new rubbish collecting trucks from China and completely restructured security agency. Oh, and the president decided to take a short break from all these changes. The man must have gotten tired signing all these new bills and decisions. 

Not so long ago, in one of his speeches the president Ilham Aliyev spoke of new reforms and changes he has envisaged for the people of Azerbaijan in 2016. So it is not surprising that slowly we are getting a glimpse of what the president and his busy bees have in mind. 

First present is trash collecting trucks from China. Will they keep the city clean? Or will the people continue throwing trash in the middle of the streets, in front of their apartments or living quarters? Well looks like the latter is going to be a lot more problematic but more on that in the section on fines (see below). 

Present number two is a revamped intelligence service. Yes yes... The President was unhappy that the ministry of National Security was spying on him and listening to his phone calls (Oops)- all allegedly that is. He was so shocked that he immediately decided to sack the minister as well as the minister of communication who was kindly providing the requested information (Oops again)- as if the president didn't know about this?! But sacking was not enough. So the President decided to completely get rid of the institution and instead create not one but two! So now Azerbaijan has its very own State Security Service and Foreign Intelligence Service! Beware proponents of freedom of expression and democracy- god knows what's going to happen to these folks now that there are two of these evil state structures. 

Third present is for the residents of Nardaran village. After the "secret operation" organized on November 26 in this Baku village residents are finally getting electricity and an extra bonus- gas. For over twenty years these people had no gas, but they will now. However, everything has a cost and so the Nardaran residents are paying dearly for these comforts. So much that they cannot see their wounded friends and family members as the latter are kept under strict control at the hospitals where they are treated. Also there is no information on whereabouts of those men who were arrested over the course of the past few days. 

Last and final present is for all the people but the government officials. It is strange that while the parliament was so kind to approve all these fines no one seemed to ask the question about fining police taking bribes, or government officials doing the same or the president's family who has stolen more than everyone in this country. Oh and in the meantime, no one seemed to ask the question how these bribes will be paid given the average salaries?! So here is a brief look (some of them I find ok though, like the smoking fines): 

• 30AZN- for smoking in non-smoking areas;
• 400AZN- for officials/owners of venues failing to hang "No Smoking" sign
• 1000AZN- for legal entities for failing to hang "No Smoking" sign
• 100AZN- for families whose kids will miss 7classes (to which one local resident in Baku said, by two grand children get sick often, getting doctor's permission also costs money -shhhh... this is illegal by the way but no one is fining that doctor or the clinic mind you!- so how am i supposed to provide for two grandchildren whose parents don't work)
• 10,000AZN- for illegal occupation of property and carrying out construction work on that property
• 3000AZN- for misusing the purpose of given property/land
• 10-20AZN- for not cleaning the communal space inside the residential buildings, in front of apartments, elevators and so on
• 100-150AZN- for officials (same as above)
• 1500-3000AZN- for participation in an illegal rally or up to 2 months in administrative detention
• 1000-2000AZN- for purchasing [in cash] of branded alcohol products with the purpose of sale/resale or one year of corrective work or arrest of up to one year. Repetition of this crime will be punishable by two years of corrective work or prison sentence in the same duration
• 100AZN- for failing to make a bank transfer or pay by card in the case of purchasing of tobacco products with the purpose of resale
• also tax payments have also increased now reaching 6-8% depending on the service

Happy New Year fellow Azerbaijanis. Soon even breathing will be fined. In the meantime, don't forget to enjoy the holiday spirit just be careful and make sure you clean up after.

Keep calm and stop worrying, President Aliyev will get to the bottom of it

President Aliyev, said he is going to closely follow up the murder of Rasim Aliyev. This is perhaps worst development because now that its president who is personally involved in the case, I fear, there wont be any justice. 

On August 10, Aliyev's aid, Ali Hasanov said "Ilham Aliyev sees the death of the journalist as direct threat and intimidation to freedom of speech and information as well as free press". 

Just for your information, President Aliyev promised to find the perpetrators when another journalist Elmar Huseynov was murdered in 2005 (just two years after Aliyev's election as the country's president). Then in 2011 when yet another journalist, Rafig Tagi died following fatal stabbing no progress was made into his case either. 

I fear President Aliyev's hearty message is a signal of yet another murder case go down in history as mystery. 

But if President Aliyev really wants to solve this mystery all he needs to do is let freedom of press, speech, and information really exist in Azerbaijan and independent journalist do their job without constant threats and beating from the police and thugs. 

Or he should simply ask himself a very basic question - when was the last time he met with independent press and why one of the country's most prominent journalists while following her right to speech freedom and freedom of information is currently on trial. Or why, do we have journalists and bloggers in jail? 

It is time to take responsibility for direct actions. Rasim's murder is the result of President and his aids' irresponsible way of ruling this country amid the atmosphere of fear, intimidation, and mafia like leadership.

IRFS statement on the death of journalist and colleague Rasim Aliyev

Just received this statement. Sharing the full version below.

August 10, 2015

Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety is in shock over the murder of our longtime employee and board member, current Chairman Rasim Aliyev. On August 8, 2015, unknown persons beat Aliyev to within inches of his life. He died several hours later in a hospital after doctors failed to provide necessary medical treatment. 

We express our heartfelt condolences to Rasim Aliyev’s family members, friends, and colleagues, and declare that this murder is a constituent part of the Azerbaijan’s government policy of deliberately destroying the country’s civil society and voices of dissent. Azerbaijani physicians could have easily saved Aliyev’s life, but they refused to objectively diagnose him or place him under serious medical supervision in the intensive care unit. 

Aliyev’s death coincided with the one year anniversary of the government’s closure of IRFS, including the human rights-focused online TV project “Obyektiv TV.” On August 8, 2014, Azerbaijan law enforcement confiscated all of IRFS’ equipment and documents, sealed the organization’s office shut, and sought to imprison IRFS founder and chairman Emin Huseynov. As one of IRFS’s most trusted and loyal colleagues, it was Rasim Aliyev, using his personal vehicle, who escorted Emin Huseynov out of the vicinity and to temporary safety while law enforcement raided IRFS’ office. 

In October 2014, Rasim Aliyev was elected as IRFS’ chairman, to replace Huseynov. The protocol for this election was sent to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Justice. Basically, Aliyev took it upon himself to lead IRFS through the organization’s most difficult time, when it was in effect paralyzed by never-before-seen levels government pressure. 

Rasim Aliyev’s murder took place amidst the backdrop of a crushing, unbearable human rights situation in Azerbaijan. Since mid-2014, the government has stopped the work of all independent non-governmental organizations and confiscated their property, and thrown countless human rights defenders who are critical of the government behind bars. 

Over the last two years, journalists, human rights defenders, and other individuals critical of the Azerbaijan regime, including Anar Mammadli, Leyla Yunus, Rasul Jafarov, Intigam Aliyev, Seymur Hezi, Khadija Ismayilova, Ilgar Mammadov, Tofig Yagublu, Jadigar Sadigov, Hilal Mammadov, and Arif Yunus have been imprisoned on trumped up charges. 

 Leyla and Arif Yunus, and several other imprisoned Azerbaijani prisoners of conscience are at death’s door. Imprisoned on false charges and deprived of proper medical care, they are slowly dying in prison under circumstances much like those that killed Azerbaijani Talysh rights advocate and journalist Novruzali Mammadov. Furthermore, these individuals are being subjected to torture, and cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment. Potentially deadly attacks have been organized in prison against Azerbaijani prisoners of conscience including Ilgar Mammadov. 

Although the Azerbaijan government is unable to throw into prison Azerbaijani dissidents who have asylum abroad, it imprisons their Azerbaijan-based relatives on false charges. A shining example of this is the recent imprisonment of relatives of journalists Emin Milli and Ganimat Zahidov. In further revenge, the government has barred opposition journalists, NGO workers, and their relatives from leaving the country. By holding the relatives and colleagues of foreign-based Azerbaijani dissidents hostage in Azerbaijan and threatening to murder them, the government attempts to stop these people from criticizing it. Azerbaijan-based relatives of the country’s exiled dissident are forced to renounce and publicly condemn their relatives. 

Over the last three weeks, Rasim Aliyev received numerous threats via phone and the internet. Although he formally appealed to the police for protection, they rejected his request. 

 Rasim Aliyev’s case is not the first in which a journalist or human rights activist has been killed after a failed, premediated attack, due to gross negligence of the law enforcement agencies and physicians. Through such incidents Azerbaijan’s authorities deliberately and openly show the public that a journalist who survives an assassination attempt will not be permitted to survive, but instead die slowly and painfully in a hospital. 

On November 22, 2011, Rafig Tagi died in the same hospital where Rasim Aliyev died, after an attempt on his life. Alternative investigations conducted by journalists showed that although physicians could have saved Tagi, they instead created conditions for his death based on orders from higher up in the country’s government. Four years later, Rasim Aliyev has died under the same circumstances. 

Over the last 10 years numerous journalists, including Elmar Huseynov, Rafig Tagi, Novruzali Mammadov, and Alim Kazimli, have been murdered, but not even one of these has been solved. On the contrary, Azerbaijani law enforcement impedes the objective investigation of these murders, preventing the murderers from being exposed and prosecuted. 

Today Azerbaijan has become one big prison. While all dissidents may not actually be in prison, they live with the constant knowledge that at any moment they can be entrapped and jailed, or murdered. All independent NGOs in Azerbaijan have basically been forced to cease their activities, the last few remaining opposition publications face closure, and journalists self-censor themselves out of fear for their own lives. Basically, the print media is under complete government control, and there is not a single independent television or radio station in the country. Leading international journalism and human rights organizations rate Azerbaijan among the most repressive and dangerous countries in the world. 

Human rights defenders, journalists, dissidents, and even representatives of international governmental organization and diplomatic missions in Azerbaijan operate in under pervasive, increasingly intrusive surveillance. One day prior to Rasim Aliyev’s murder, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Communications revealed plans to propose legislation that will increase government control and surveillance over online apps such as WhatsApp and Skype, and to require online social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to maintain databases of Azerbaijan-based users which the government has access to. Through Rasim Aliyev’s murder the Azerbaijan government will further attempt to justify all-encompassing internet surveillance and regulation. 

Tendencies over the last 10 years show that murders of journalists, increasing repression, and the arrests of dissidents unfold within the framework of important political events, including elections. Rasim Aliyev’s murder in the run-up to the Fall 2015 parliamentary elections, much like the murder 10 years ago of journalist Elmar Huseynov in the run-up to the 2005 parliamentary elections, confirms this. Elmar Huseynov’s murderers and the people who ordered his murder remain at-large to this day as a result of deliberate law enforcement inactivity. In 2010, Huseynov’s family appealed to the European Court of Human Rights over this still unsolved murder. Last month, the ECtHR started communication regarding the case, requesting materials of the criminal case from the Azerbaijani government. 

 IRFS declares Azerbaijan’s incumbent government bears full responsibility for the murder of Rasim Aliyev and the atmosphere of intolerance and impunity within which his murder occurred. 

IRFS calls on the government of Azerbaijan to put an end to the cruel and insufferable repression against dissident voices. Furthermore, IRFS calls on the government to arrest and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those responsible for the deaths of not only Rasim Aliyev, but also Elmar Huseynov, Rafig Tagi, Novruzali Mammadov and Alim Kazimli. The government must release all prisoners of conscience, including, first and foremost, those imprisoned journalists and human rights defenders whose lives are in danger. 

IRFS calls on the United Nations, Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and European Union, to show their principal support for the victims of Azerbaijan’s repression by holding Azerbaijan accountable for fulfilling its international obligations the sphere of human rights. 

***Rasim Aliyev (left, in yellow Press vest) was born on August 16, 1984. On August 16, 2015, he would have turned 31. He was a graduate of the State Oil Academy. Rasim Aliyev resided with his elderly parents, but was engaged to be married and in the process of planning a wedding. He worked for IRFS since 2007. In addition to his parents and fiance, Rasim Aliyev is survived by one sister.