Azerbaijan talking about sanctions against America

On December 23, a draft law on the situation of human rights in America was presented at the national parliament of Azerbaijan. The bill was introduced by Rovshan Rzayev who happens to be the chairman of the legal policy and state building committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament and also board member of the Azerbaijan community of NK region of Azerbaijan Republic. 

The draft law focuses on the double standards used by a group of selected countries and organizations against Azerbaijan. The main country targeted in the bill (as you can tell from the name) is United States and some of its organizations. “These organizations are trying to influence the country’s internal and foreign policy through various means", reads the draft bill. 

“One of the ways to constantly influence Azerbaijan is holding biased and one sided position on human rights and democracy issues”. 

"While it regularly prepared reports on the situation of human rights across the world, United States itself avoids joining some of the important international human rights treaties" 

"So far, US signed only 4 out of 14 documents prepared by the UN on human rights. US remains among the two countries (other one being Somalia) who has not ratified the convention on children's rights", reads the bill. 

"In recent years we have seen growth in racial and religious discrimination, xenophobia, and Islamophobia as well as a total control over society, invasion of privacy and increased measures of restrictions over freedom of expression and media". 

"Legal corruption and lobbying have become main attributes of US political system". 

"Negative developments taking place within the US and its claims for world hegemony pushes Azerbaijan to reassess its partnership and the years of bilateral relations with this country". 

   

The bill is divided into several parts focusing on discrimination on race and religion; surveillance; corruption; election fraud; violation of international rights and principles in United States. 

"One third of America's black population is either in prison, custody or under investigation". The bill also mentions Ferguson case. "The events which followed after the murder, demonstrated discrimination, police arbitrariness, blatant violation of citizen's rights to freedom of assembly". 

Even Trump made it into the bill too. "It is no coincidence that the US Presidential candidate Donald Trump has proposed a ban on entry for Muslims". 

Under the subheading of surveillance and restrictions to freedom of speech and press, the bill notes how mass surveillance following the 9/11 events has spread across the whole country. 

Corruption section is a gem on its own. "80% of the country's population thinks state structures are completely corrupted. In 2015 alone there were 2320criminal cases opened against various government officials". 

But many of these cases claims the bill are kept away from media and the American people. 

Last but not least, the bill also mentions mass election violations. "No one doubts, that the US election system is defective" says the bill. 

"The investigation into election fraud in 2000 were not completed. The recount of votes in the state of Florida was never completed" reads the bill. 

"The voters registration is also in a terrible state. So if the citizen is not registered as a voter, he/she cannot vote. This in return leaves 1/4 of America's voters unable to vote". 

The bill notes that in last elections in America, some of the European observers (from the European Parliament) were not allowed to choose which polling stations to choose for observation. "During voting, observers are not allowed to take pictures, use mobile phones and even talk to other other people". 

  

At the very end, the bill provides a list of recommendations.

To the MFA bill suggests visa bans based on the following list 

• Representatives of US government and their family members; 
• Congressmen, senators, and their family members who continuously work on discrediting Azerbaijan at the US Congress; 
• High ranking government officials and experts working with Armenian diaspora organizations and lobby groups; 
• Heads of mainstream media outlets, representatives of non-governmental organizations and experts who are engaged in slander and smear; 
• Those engaged in election violations; 
• Those who are against US joining human rights focused international agreements". 

The Cabinet of Ministers is advised to suspend all agreements Azerbaijani state has signed with American companies.

Representative of private sector are advised to suspend all agreements with American companies and refuse any new economic/commercial ties with American companies. 

To the relevant executive powers the bill advise: 

• to stop all projects implemented by US-based organizations and freeze their bank accounts (as if that has not happened already);
• to stop activities of all non-governmental organizations funded by the State Department and US Congress with representatives in Azerbaijan; 
• to bad transportation of any American military and other goods through Azerbaijan;

To the United States:

• stop gross violation of human rights, racial and religious discrimination, xenophobia and Islamophobia;
• end inhuman treatment of prisoners;
• stop use of force against peaceful protesters;
• fight corruption;
• give up lobbying;

So there you have it (this is not all but most of the translation) I can now tell everyone that I have lived to see the days when my country drowning in corruption, with over 80 political prisoners, with no freedom of expression and media freedoms is talking about sanctions against United States. 

Can it get any more ridiculous than this?! I now fear it might....

Khadija Ismayil vs. President Aliyev: the chronology

The case of Khadija Ismayilova vs President Aliyev: chronology | Create infographics

Azerbaijan: The ultimate battle of words

Originally written for Meydan TV now sharing this on my blog. 

There is an on-going trend for those who are not very familiar (or too familiar) with Azerbaijan. And that is the ultimate battle of words between the government officials and the world that exists outside their 86,600 km²  world. There is the official language which comes down to one general statement and that is there is nothing wrong with this nation of 9.3 million and that everything is just superb.

Then there is the unofficial language, of the invisible ones, of the group of people who are most often end up in jail, even more often intimidated or even more often belittled and humiliated.

But is still within the country boundaries.

Outside of Azerbaijan exists a whole other world. Which not always takes things the way they are. In short, “everything is grand” just wont cut it.

One of these countries, is her Majesty’s England. Famous for its five o’clock tea and delicious scones. But what England also has is an outspoken government, especially when it comes to speaking about the importance of the freedom of speech and human rights. These leaders are not so much liked in Azerbaijan. No caviar involving deals are done with these men and women.

And because caviar won’t do it, there is a special kind of treatment and allergic reaction developed towards such individuals. It is most commonly known as “go-mind-your-own-business” type of reaction.

So it was not at all surprising when one of Azerbaijan’s very own, Elman Abdullayev of the Press Service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, reacted in exactly this manner to the words of the British Minister for Europe, David Lidington.

Just a few days earlier, Lidington condemned the verdict against the human rights activist Hassan Huseynli, adding, how much disappointed was he that Huseynli was sentenced to six years and whose sentence appears to be politically motivated. “In recent years the British Embassy in Baku worked closely with Mr. Huseynli on projects designed to promote social entrepreneurship and strengthen female participation in civil society. Mr Huseynli joins a growing number of civil society activists sentenced to lengthy prison terms. I again call on Azerbaijan to address concerns felt by many about the increasingly worrying trend of detentions and prison sentences which appear to be politically motivated”, read the rest of Lidington’s statement.

And in a manner of tit-for-tat, Press Service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry immediately reacted advising "to refrain from undue interference in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan, and spend their efforts to improve human rights in his [Lidington’s] country."

The icing on the cake was the following statement by Abdullayev saying, “no one in Azerbaijan  is persecuted for his/her political views, and he regards  the words of Lidington as an 'indicator' of  Britain's attitude to the rule of law” adding a myriad of existing issues as  “lack of conditions for free ships, torture, opacity legislatures, mass surveillance of citizens on the Internet and telephone tapping, violation of privacy, slavery, racial discrimination, violation of immigration laws, and etc.”

Does the last part of Abdullayev’s statement imply that there are no cases of torture, crystal clear and transparent legislature, no mass surveillance of citizens online and “0” cases of telephone tapping? Perhaps not so much of racial discrimination in Azerbaijan but what about minorities or religious groups and the tolerance exercised towards these communities?

The last time the world has checked UK ranks 33^rd and Azerbaijan 160^th on the World Press Freedom Index; 36^th vs. 183^rd (don’t have to guess which one is which) on the Freedom House Press Freedom Index; UK is “free” when it comes to Freedom on the Net and Azerbaijan is “party free” (imagine all that surveillance); one gets the picture without further comparisons.

So why the battle? Why poke fingers at ourselves by comments and statements that make little sense and draw only further criticism if not laughter? Wouldn’t it be better to start addressing some of the raised shortcomings rather than dismissing them? Perhaps it is time to accept the truth?

Many of these questions will remain just questions for the time being. Mostly due to the mere fact of negligence, which is widely spread among the government circles in Azerbaijan. And to the dismay of the many who see the reality different from Azerbaijani authorities the battle will go on.

(un)happy Baku

We all know the Pharrell Williams and his trendsetter song "Happy" from the animated Pixar movie "Despicable me 2". 

There is even a new trend to send in videos from around the world titled "Happy from XXX" representing cities and countries from across the globe. 

But when I watched this morning "Happy from Baku" video I couldn't help but wonder- are we really?! Yes, people in the video look very happy (granted half if not more of the people starring in the video are well known artists from Azerbaijan and a few random passerby). 

Maybe Baku is happy and so are its residents but I thought of all the recent activists, bloggers, journalists, and advocates who were sentenced to jail on trumped charges in just past one month. I am pretty sure their families, friends are not happy. 

So was this video mocking all those people of Azerbaijan who don't feel happy at the moment? Because I am pretty sure with the unemployed, hungry, struggling to get by, average Azerbaijanis there is nothing to be happy about. Nor there is anything to be happy about the level of our deteriorating education system, health care system, social services. The Baku thats in the video isn't everyone's, not the happy part at least.

Last year, there was a remake of another popular video- Harlem Shake but because there were no famous people in it and because it wasn't supported by Azerbaijani government its maker is actually in jail today, yes- convicted for 8 years! Will the people who made the "Happy" video convicted now too?! Of course not! So let them be happy, the few who care little about others.  

We are on hunger strike- statement by N!DA activists

Below is the text from the statement of N!DA activists who are facing prison terms from 6.5 to 8.5 years. These young men were arrested on trumped up charges and are on hunger strike together with their parents. 

WE ARE ON HUNGER STRIKE / STATEMENT
We, 8 persons prosecuted connected to the prominent Nida case as a result of repressions started against Nida Civic Movement on 7 March 2013, are in prison. Our interrogation for a few hours during 7 months of preliminary investigation and humour spectacle called “court” has proven that, we are in prison as a consequence of a political order, for exercising our rights. The fact that, throughout half a year of the court proceedings our petitions have been turned down, testimonies and objects, which cannot be considered as proofs are being considered as such, shows that, tough accusation judgment is expected against us. Today’s demand of the public prosecutor to sentence us for prison term of between 6.5 and 8.5 years is a proof for that. We are starting a hunger strike with demand of our release protesting this political discrimination and repression. If we approach this issue more realistically, we consider that, the authorities are not going to confess that, the process, which has been going on for more than a year is politically motivated, and will not acquit us. Therefore, we suggest the authorities to show political will and release us from prison through any method. Our aim is to achieve freedom through peaceful means - eternal method of Nida.

We have taken all the possible harms into account. We are strong and resolute. We believe that, we will get our freedom.
undersigned:

Shahin Novruzlu
Mammad Azizov
Bakhtiyar Guliyev
Rashad Hasanov
Uzeyir Mammadli
Rashadat Akhundov
Zaur Gurbanlı
Ilkin Rustamzada

And here is another letter written by one of the young men- Rashadat Akhundov:

Dear friends,

We have started hunger strike since yesterday, April 17th. Our decision is a serious one. We ask of you and our parents not to request of us to halt of the strike. In any case, such a request will be refused. This is a new phase of the moral and dignified struggle for your and our freedom. Perhaps it is the last phase for us. Since either they have to set us free, or we will leave this place as dead corpses. There is no other way. This is our only demand.

We love you all.

Rashadat Akhundov,

prisoner of conscience

To help these eight young men, you can sign the following petition.

President tweets while Prime Minister bans

As Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan moved ahead with a ban on Twitter ahead of the local elections scheduled to take place on March 30th, the President of Turkey Gul, does not share the same sentiments. 

Sosyal medya platformlarının tamamen kapatılması tasvip edilemez.
— Abdullah Gül (@cbabdullahgul) March 21, 2014

Translation: "One cannot approve of the complete closure of social media platforms"

Whether its an attempt to play the good guy, is yet to be seen. Perhaps a step toward urging the Prime Minister to sack the court orders would show the true intentions. So far however, just a tweet.

Erdogan said he would ban Facebook and YouTube just few weeks ago. This time, without a warning though, except few fiery words at a campaign rally, PM vowed to shut down Twitter. And shut down he did- one of the "menace to society" as he called these platforms last summer is finally dealt with. Whats next?! A total Internet shut down?

Joint Statement of Civil Society Delegates to the 2013 Internet Governance Forum

See the original statement. 

 

Freedom House led a delegation of civil society leaders and online activists from around the world to Bali, Indonesia for the 8th Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the UN's flagship conference for discussing global Internet policy. Following the IGF, 17 organizations and individuals signed on to a joint statement to highlight the concerns they raised throughout the Forum, and to offer recommendations to governments, internet companies, and international organizations on how to better protect internet freedoms. This statement was delivered to the Forum during the Open Mic session on the final day by Bouziane Zaid.

We, the undersigned representatives of a group of civil society leaders worldwide who attended and participated in the 2013 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) on October 22-25 in Bali, Indonesia as part of the Freedom House delegation, make this statement at the meeting’s conclusion to highlight a number of opinions we expressed and concerns we raised throughout the Forum.

The 2013 IGF provided a valuable space for the members of our group to engage with other stakeholder groups, through the Forum’s sessions and also through side meetings and consultations with representatives of governments, businesses, the technical community, multilateral bodies, and civil society organizations from all over the world. We urge all stakeholders to continue to engage and participate in future IGFs, to strengthen the Forum’s multistakeholder process, and to uphold the principles of openness, transparency, and inclusiveness. Without the IGF, there is no comparable venue for civil society to directly raise its perspective and concerns with leaders in the government, the private sector, and the technical community.

We share the sentiment with the vast majority of IGF participants that the Internet governance process can and should be improved, but stress the importance of upholding and strengthening the multistakeholder approach to ensure that the internet remains open, global, secure and resilient. In calling for more efforts to promote, protect, and advocate for human rights online, our group has underscored broad principles and recommendations, such as:

1. All laws, policies, regulations, terms of service, user agreements, and other measures to govern the internet must adhere to international standards of human rights, including but not limited to Article 19 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, guaranteeing the right to freedom of expression; Article 12, guaranteeing the right to privacy; and Article 20, guaranteeing the right to free association. As an important step, states and other stakeholders must look to Human Rights Council Resolution 20/8 – adopted by consensus in July 2012 – affirming “that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, in particular freedom of expression,” and pledging to explore further “how the Internet can be an important tool for development and for exercising human rights.” This applies to ending illicit online surveillance by any government. To be legitimate and lawful, any surveillance must be limited, targeted, used to deter or investigate criminalized activity, and subject to independent judicial oversight.

2. Consistency across the many spaces for discussion around Internet governance issues – including those spaces clustered around regional, sub-regional, national, linguistic, and other groupings –  is crucial to ensure the principles of openness, transparency, and inclusiveness are upheld in all venues. This is not multistakeholderism for multistakeholderism’s sake, but rather recognizing the need to represent all voices, perspectives and interests in setting standards, norms, and policies that affect the internet, both locally and globally. The term multistakeholder is overused and applied to a wide range of events, groups and processes. Various international organizations, as well as national governments, must make it a top priority to replace lipservice to multistakeholderism with genuine efforts to bring all stakeholders to the table on equal footing.

3. Transparency and accountability are crucial next steps in the internet governance discussion, and need to be fully implemented by all stakeholder groups. Businesses are beginning to recognize transparency reports as serving their users and their corporate social responsibilities, as well as their bottom-line interests. Governments likewise should ensure that their policies and practices are fully transparent as a means of preserving their legitimacy, credibility, and moral authority with their own citizens and the international community. In instances of content censorship, surveillance, shutting down or deliberate slowing down of networks, and other methods of internet control, these two stakeholder groups must work independently and together to divulge details about these measures and have them open to public debate. In addition, governments should institute strict controls on the export of surveillance and filtering technologies to regimes that have failed to demonstrate a commitment to upholding human rights, while the private sector should take a close look at some of their own practices in this domain. In some countries, bloggers, activists, and other internet users are subject to beatings, imprisonment, and even murder when they post information critical of the authorities.

We thank the government of Indonesia for its warm hospitality and dedicated efforts in successfully hosting the 8th annual meeting of the Global IGF. Despite the confusion during the summer over whether the event would be held in Bali, we were able to convene our delegation of civil society advocates, activists and academics from more than 18 countries. However, three of our colleagues had to cancel their attendance owing to visa issues. The letter granting certain registered participants permission to obtain visas upon arrival in Indonesia came too late, was rejected by airline officials, and was not extended to participants from all countries. For future IGFs, it would be preferable to announce the visa on arrival special procedure well in advance and officially notify the appropriate channels.

Thank you.

Signatories:

- Freedom House
- The Unwanted Witness, Uganda
- Jorge Luis Sierra, México
- Damir Gainutdinov, Russian Federation, AGORA Association
- Nighat Dad, Pakistan, Digital Rights Foundation
- Artem Goriainov, Kyrgyzstan, Public Foundation “Civil Initiative on Internet Policy”
- Giang Dang, Vietnam
- Fatima Cambronero, Argentina, AGEIA DENSI Argentina
- Michelle Fong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong In-Media
- Dalia Haj-Omar, Sudan, GIRIFNA
- Bouziane Zaid, Morocco
- Syahredzan Johan, Malaysia
- Juned Sonido, Philippines
- Myanmar ICT for Development Organization (MIDO)
- Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM)
- Mahmood Enayat, United Kingdom, Small Media
- Abeer Alnajjar, Jordan
- Arzu Geybullayeva, Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, country of contrasts

My home is a country of contrasts. Here in Azerbaijan, achieved scholars and writers are stripped of their rights and honors as quickly as one would buy bread at the market. The moment it doesn't go down too well with the so- called democratic leadership, your years of work and commitment are tossed away in a moment.

Opposition leaders, organizers, advocates, get detained, thrown into jail with no further notice (also with an amazingly high speed), while those of "their own kind" get the safe treatment and "kindness" even if they have done something worth a life sentence. 

Your pockets and bank accounts can grow as quickly as your status if you are good with handing out bribes, at times losing your identity, or simply keeping your eyes, mouth and ears shut to the reality existing outside of the bubble. But there is no guarantee, everything can disappear swiftly. One day you are rich and famous, another you are a nobody.

Its leadership, close cronies and allies want to be rich, but spare their nickles and dimes when the time comes to share. Humanly values are of no value, but as long as their benefits at stake, suddenly values become their sole weapon. Honesty by all means, exists on dusted pages of our constitution, hidden somewhere far from sight. 

While many of our villages lack basic infrastructure Azerbaijani businessmen invest in multimillion projects, but not for the sake of the people. Its all about upscale market, the rich and the filthy rich. And as these filthy rich sip from their glasses its the little boys and girls who carry on dreaming of a school, with heating, electricity, toilets, running water and a bribes free education. 

It is ok, that the magazines like Baku, feature ads for Tom Ford, Burberry, Dior and Celine stores that enrich the shopping scene in the capital of Baku. After all, people need a choice and this is the kind of freedom of choice Azerbaijani rich value. 

Once upon a time there was a dream for this country, to have a democratic state, with equal rights and freedoms granted to its people, with prospering economy with revenues intended for its people and the future generations. But that was a long time ago. Is it finally time to forget that dream, or is there a hope? I sure would like to believe so...

Behind the "belt of happiness" - the many facades of Azerbaijan

Amazing Azerbaijani is a short documentary shedding light on human rights violations, corruption, and recent cases of journalists, activists who were subject to "special" government attention as a result of their work. It also looks at the so-called European values, which have been overstepped by the very same Europeans for the sake of energy security and global war on terrorism. 

Watch and share. There is also a website but it seems to have some kind of problems.

Petty matter no more?! Prisoner of conscience- Taleh Khasmammadov released from jail

Yesterday, Taleh Khasmammadov, blogger, was released from prison by decree of pardon signed by the President Ilham Aliyev. His first words [AZ] outside of jail were, "Everything feels more valuable. Freedom is sweet." He also spoke of the conditions inside the prison- beatings, torture and corruption are becoming reoccurring incidents with overall situation worsening, especially in the last few months.

If only the rest of the arrested journalists could taste that sweet freedom too...

Political prisoners are "petty matters" for President Aliyev

Indeed they are. Or at least, according to the head of the social- political department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov. You remember the "incident" with European Commission Vice- President Neelie Kroes during her visit to Baku for the Internet Governance Forum? No, not the one with her computer hacked (yes, that too happened in case you missed it!) but when she was not allowed to meet with the political prisoners. According to Ms. Kroes, President Aliyev, gave his approval. However, when Ms. Kroes showed up at the jail gates together with the head of EU delegation to Azerbaijan Roland Kobia, she was not allowed into the prison.

In an interview with local media outlet Turan, Ali Hasanov- i-know-it- all" not only refuted Ms. Kroes's original statement regarding original approval from the president but called the meeting with political prisoners a "petty matter". "Mr. President" Hasanov said, "did not engage in such petty matters" adding that meetings at jails are procedural based on the sentence of each convict.

Ehm... Thank you for reminding us Mr. Hasanov but I am pretty sure, when a President gives his approval (at least in Azerbaijani) things simply happen. But what we also learn from the same interview is apparent independence of state institutions as Ministry of Justice even though, we all know how ministries operate in Azerbaijan and under whose auspices. 

Needles to say that according to Mr. Hasanov, Azerbaijan has free Internet, free journalists, freedom of expression and etc.

Perhaps, a reality check is what Mr. Hasanov needs. I wonder if President agrees with Mr. Hasanov on calling political prisoners "petty matters" especially given how much importance he attaches to the country's image abroad. Though, given the President never himself attended the IGF 2012 and chose to send a letter while instead opting to attend next door BAKUTEL exhibition is proof that political prisoners as well as other pressing issues in Azerbaijan are perhaps "petty matters" for some...

Thought police and Oceanic Azerbaijan

Source: Google Images

Perhaps you have heard of this term. I camE across it while reading 1984 by G.Orwell. Interesting book by the way. A friend recently told me that 1984 applies more to countries like Azerbaijan, Belarus and Kazakhstan while Huxley's Brave New World to the West. The more I read, further I realize my friend is right and that I fully agree with him. 

The extent of surveillance state, paranoid assumptions, robotized thinking and much more- remind me of my own country and many other countries around the world where governments could not care less for its people while skillfully instilling fear in minds of millions.

So far however, my personal favorite in the book are references to what the author describes as Thought Police. People vanish because of their thoughts writes the author, especially when they are different i.e., potential challengers of the status quo must go (literally). There are monitors everywhere to "help" Thought Police, there are spies too. You are not safe even when you are with your family let alone your "comrades". The careful strategy implemented by the Big Brother ensures its power and permanency while eliminating any possible threats. 

Reminding me of how Azerbaijani police deals with protestors, advocates, journalists and activists on the streets and off the streets acting on the commands of their own version of Big Brother makes me think that soon we might too have the Though Police department. And the neglect of reality fits even better. Earlier in the book the author describes how easily facts are changed, including economy. 

The actual output was given at sixty- two millions. Winston, however in re-writing the forecast, marked the figure down to fifty- seven millions, so as to allow for the usual claim that the quota had been over- fulfilled. In any case, sixty- two millions was no nearer to the truth than fifty- seven millions, or than a hundred and forty- five millions. Very likely no boots had been produced at all. Likelier still, nobody knew how many had bee produced, much less cared. All one knew was that every quarter astronomical numbers of booths were produced on paper, while perhaps half the population of Oceania went barefoot (pp. 43- 44).

Rings a bell? Think Azerbaijani State Statistical Institute, think inflation numbers, think unemployment numbers, think whatever indicator that comes to your mind then put it into present day Azerbaijani context and voila, Azerbaijan ain't that far from Oceania.

And then add this article (and you can even watch it too [AZ]) published today of bold statements made by the President of Oceania ehm, excuse me, of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev speak of prospering democracy in Azerbaijan while vicious Europeans slam their people for protesting on the streets. Never mind how his very own police is slamming its very own people and the recently adopted gigantic fines added on November 10th to the Law on Freedom of Assembly. Never mind any of that, so long as the bellies of the upper echelons are full, their minds empty and their pockets full.

I guess the show must go on...

Google Tent in Baku: Debating Free Expression in Baku

Wanted to share the Google Tent event- the debate between Ali Novruzov and Rauf Mardiyev- organized in Baku on November 6th during the IGF 2012. I will add my comments later.

European Parliament resolution on Azerbaijan (May 25, 2012)

Though its been a while, after watching this video where top Azerbaijani official aid is bashing all of the European, international and local institutions dealing with human rights, democracy, free press issues as well as local human rights defenders and activists, I thought I remind myself and others what are Azerbaijan's responsibilities as a member of Council of Europe and a partner in European Neighborhood Policy. 

This is the resolution that came through a day before the finals of the Eurovision song contest held in Baku.

European Parliament resolution on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan

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.

From presidency for life, to life long immunity- whats next for Azerbaijan? Life long police state?

It started with a Referendum in 2009 when Azerbaijani President, secured pretty much a presidency for life. But as this wasn't enough, in order to protect himself and his family from recent wave of criticisms and investigations targeting some of the personal and related shady businesses Azerbaijani Parliament (full of pro government puppets) passed two laws. From now on, the President and his family will have extensive immunity rights states one of the laws. The second law "bars government officials from distributing information about companies if doing so 'contradicts the national interests of Azerbaijan in political, economic, and monetary policy, the defense of public order, the health and moral values of the people, or harms the commercial or other interests of individuals."

How is this "necessary" I am not sure, so I am wondering whether the lawyer, Alasgar Mammadli,  didn't have any more concrete explanations apart from stating that "country's political landscape makes such protections necessary"? I thought we were a transparent democracy?!

Anyway, it is obvious that these new changes in our legislation are surely only meant to further embed the authoritarian rule in Azerbaijan and to limit advocates in their attempts to uncover the corrupted nature of most of the Azerbaijani leadership. What will be next? Asking for a permission to speak (though this too ain't far from becoming a reality- as those who speak of what is happening in the country are either "drug addicts", "traitors" or "hooligans")? I guess we'll see soon... how our country turns into a police state.

Caviar and diplomacy

Who doesn't like caviar? I am sure there are plenty of people who don't and find it gross but this wont be about tastes and food. Well... I guess in a way it will be. As many of you know some of the best caviar in the world today comes from beluga sturgeon. Considered a luxury even back in the day with tsars and shahs treating their visitors with only the best of delicacies, caviar also came to represent a luxury. Azerbaijan and the Caspian basin was and is the source of this centuries old luxury. And as you would know by now, Azerbaijan and the concept of luxury are very much inter- connected. Azerbaijani authorities especially love everything thats lavish, expensive and glitzy. 

And so the title of this post, takes it after a recently published report by European Stability Initiative titled "Caviar Diplomacy- How Azerbaijani Silenced the Council of Europe" that explores the boundaries of caviar diplomacy, deals, and much more between corrupted Azerbaijani officials and no less corrupted European officials who indulge themselves in lavish presents. 

But I am going to stop here and let you read the report yourselves. Enjoy!

Caviar Diplomacy – How Azerbaijan silenced the Council of Europe

Eurovision 2012- what you see and don't see

This is my most recent storify story on Eurovision and Azerbaijan. More updates to come soon.

Azerbaijan and the theory of broken windows

Source: google images

I was reading "The Tipping Point: how little things can make a big difference" by Malcolm Gladwell and came across what is known as the theory of "broken windows". Now originally this theory is more known in criminology but given Azerbaijani state is run by well arranged "mafia" like structures I felt this theory also applied in this country and to how things are done here.

In the book the theory is described in the following way:

[...] crime is the inevitable result of disorder. If a window is broken and left unrepaired, people walking by will conclude that no one cares and no one is in charge. Soon, more windows will be broken, and the sense of anarchy will spread from the building to the street on which if faces, sending a signal that anything goes[...]

This is how I interpreted this theory in the case of Azerbaijan. Consider broken windows as human lives/ human beings. Every time there is a human right violation taking place the authorities see no resistance (at least on a much larger scale and I am not referring to the reaction that comes from abroad because I consider it as an external element in this particular analysis) on the ground and continue harassing protestors, rally organizers, activists, and journalists. Because there is no significant resistance on the ground, the authorities feel empowered and continue with their humiliation and intimidation. By continuing repression and facing no retaliation there forms a sense of anarchy described in the book- police feels empowered, they face no restrictions, thugs beat up activists with no repercussions and etc. The whole process turns into a vicious cycle of violence that becomes limitless and untouchable.

Perhaps this is a far stretch for this theory and its applicability but it was interesting to place it in this kind of framework.  

Surely, Azerbaijani authorities prefer their own version of dictatorial anarchy where they run a show of glitz and glamor while suffocating the rest of its people... An image just formed in my mind- a graveyard of 9million people with Ilham Aliyev and his family standing in the middle happy and satisfied with their accomplishment.

'Hypocrisy'

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