Ali Hasanov's mastered skills to silence critics fails as he tries to silence animals as well

Ali Hasanov the head of social political department at the presidential apparatus claims the organizing committee has done a tremendous job getting the country ready for the upcoming European Games.

Even the European Olympics Committee has valued this progress highly notes Mr. Hasanov. 

“All of this proves that European Games will go down as the most magnificent games”. But unfortunately some forces are trying hard to engage in “black PR” and overshadow the development and progress achieved in this country economically, politically and socially” says Hasanov. These include Amnesty International and organization’s calls to boycott the games; spreading of disinformation; prearranged articles in foreign media full of blasphemy and so on. 

But the most leading institution in the so-called “black pr” campaign is Radio Liberty local bureau. “They are sharing videos of street dogs being killed as part of the "clean up" for the Olympic Games but no one can even prove the video was taken in Azerbaijan. It is obvious that by sharing such questionable facts those forces are simply spreading misinformation about the games. But this is nothing but crafty game against the country”, said Hasanov [Hasanov forgets to mention here that the video was shared by most of the online outlets yesterday morning, but was removed shortly after the news circulated online]. 

The video of stray dogs murdered in Balakhani district was shared widely on the social networks yesterday. Yelena Simakina who posted the video said in an interview with Azadliq Radiosu this was not the first time she has witnessed such brutality. “Almost every day there are street dogs that get killed. I filmed this about a week ago. Because you cannot kill stray animals in front of people, they bring them here. They shoot bigger dogs and beat the puppies to death with shovels” said Simakina [You can watch new footage here].

The killing range was quickly cleaned after the video circulated online. In an interview with Meydan TV the owner of the shelter repeated the words of Mr. Hasanov refuting any claims about killing of animals. “That video was probably taken in Soviet times” said the man. In the meantime the journalist zooms into the thick cloud of smoke in the back – exactly where the animals are getting burned after they are killed. 

Its certainly no soviet times, but the way the authorities treat the country reminiscent of those days – the crackdown, the surveillance and refuting all anti-government information. Azerbaijan might be in 21st century and about to host a multi billion sporting event, but the authorities’ methods to treat its people [and animals] are stuck somewhere in the past full of repression and crackdown.

I am pretty sure Orwell could possibly write a sequel to his 1984, “2015 same shit: 1984 disguised under billions of dollars”

From Game of Thrones to the reality of a 20 year old conflict

Originally published on The Neutral Zone. 

“Those boys didn’t kill your sons […] They were just boys, look at them”.

Generally, I abstain from quoting lines from movies, TV series, or songs. But sometimes, there are some lines that are worth quoting; sometimes they are even worth writing down somewhere, and reading them every day to remind ourselves of who we are, what we have become, what we want to be, or where we are headed. When I heard these words, I wrote them down to remind myself and hopefully others of what we have become or will become if we do not stop seeking vengeance.

Some of you might be familiar with the “Game of Thrones” an epic fantasy television drama series. The series are based on a fantasy novel series written by George R. R. Martin. In season three, there is an episode when two captive, innocent boys are murdered by soldiers out of vengeance – their uncle’s soldiers killed the two sons of another fighter. The perpetrators are punished for committing this crime even though the captives are from the enemy line. The leader (the King of North) refuses to accept this act as crime committed out of justice. He says these boys were just boys and were not there when the two sons of the man who killed them were murdered.

Yes, it is a movie. Yes, it is a novel. But doesn’t this accusation hold true today, in many conflicts around the world? The act of revenge, vengeance, retaliation – there are so many ways to say it – but most of the time just one way to get it – ending someone’s life forever. Even if it means to kill an innocent child…

Often, this is what I think of nationalism that has taken over the minds and souls of many Azerbaijanis and Armenians. Isn’t this their “argument” – claiming lives of more innocents just because they are the enemies who once fought us and killed our brothers and sisters, uncles, fathers, mothers, and sometimes did much more than just killing?

But aren’t we forgetting something? Aren’t “those boys just boys”?! Why do we find it so easy to demand, to take the life of the other?! Did we give that life to them? No! Did we take part in the upbringing of that person? No! Then how can we so easily just say that someone deserves to die simply because that person comes from a certain country, nationality, blood, or race?

True, those who are responsible for the acts of violence should be held responsible but in no way can we hold a young Azerbaijani or an Armenian responsible for something that was done 20 years ago, perhaps when these innocent people were only infants. And instilling hatred and anger from a young age, influencing the decision and thinking of younger people based on history of violence isn’t the right way either. No one says let’s forget it all together and give up. History is an important part of our life, shaping our countries just as it shapes our lives. But it should not be used as an excuse or a weapon. Respecting history and paying homage to it is one thing; killing and seeking vengeance based on it is something else…