FB Digest@VoxPOPULI

 

“Local and international environmental organizations should take a stand against Russia’s use of the Caspian Sea for military purposes in order to protect the ecology and biological resources of the Caspian Sea and demand compensation from Russia.”

(Lack of) Human Rights and Liberties

The chairman of the Muslim Union Movement, Taleh Baghirzade, is said to have stopped a hunger strike in Gobustan prison. Baghirzade had been on a hunger strike since June 3 to protest the police officers who allegedly insulted God. Meanwhile, a rally in support of Azerbaijani political activists arrested in Iran was held in front of the Iranian embassy in Baku. The one-man rally protested against those who wanted to establish a religious state in Azerbaijan and demanded the release of activists arrested in Iran. The police interrupted the journalists covering the protest.

Commenting on the recent cases of torture against the members of the Muslim Union Movement, journalist Khadija Ismayil said that although the violation of their rights is disturbing, the religious ideology that the members of the Movement try to impose is unacceptable. Ismayil wrote: “The rights of believers are violated. This worries us. But they should not impose their ideology while fighting for their rights. If they invite us to a rally at which they will talk about torture together with the virtue of the hijab, then they should not expect us to join.”

Chapay Sadigli, chairman of the Barda branch of the Popular Front Party, was killed. The murderer was detained and the case is under investigation. Chairperson of APFP Ali Karimli said that as the party, they will closely follow the investigation and trial.

Activist Ilkin Rustamzadeh held presentation of his book “Yoldaş” (Comrade) dedicated to Bayram Mammadov, a former “monument prisoner” who mysteriously died in Istanbul last year.

The court has issued another verdict against Ali Aliyev, the chairperson of the Citizens and Development Party (VIP), who is currently in prison. The complaint was filed by Ramiz Goyushov, a former functionary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party. The court found Ali Aliyev guilty under Article 148 (insult) of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to six months in prison, along with his previous sentences. With the new charges Aliyev’s sentences is extended till early next year.

Azadliq newspaper reports that a well-known lawyer was fired for not visiting the grave of the former president Heydar Aliyev. Lawyer Javad Javadov is unable to receive compensation from the company where he works as a lawyer for being fired without his knowledge. The company wrote in a letter to the court that the lawyer was fired for not visiting the grave of former President Heydar Aliyev. T-Finans LTD, which has announced that it will open a factory to build military uniforms in the Jojug Marjanli settlement and Shukurbayli village of the Jabrayil region, must pay Javadov 32,300 manat in compensation. However, the company refuses to pay the compensation arguing that Javadov resigned. The letter sent to the court by the company’s director Minaya Hamidova states that Javadov resigned voluntarily and did not have an employment contract. The company’s executive director, Ilaha Ilyasova, told Azadliq Radio that they did not intend to pay the compensation: “Why should I keep him at the company if he doesn’t respect our national leader?”, said Ilyasova. Javadov says that the company is deliberately using the former president’s name in order not to obey the court decision.

Governance, Transparency and Corruption

Russia has again fired rockets at Kiev, and an apartment building has collapsed, killing and injuring many people.  According to the statement of the spokesperson for the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the missiles were launched from the Caspian Sea early in the morning. Chairperson of ADWP Gubad Ibadoghlu said that there should be an international reaction against the military activities of Russia in the Caspian Sea. Ibadoghlu wrote: “The launch of these missiles damages the ecosystem of the Caspian Sea and pollutes the water. The law on the status of the Caspian Sea also defines the responsibility of the party that caused the pollution of the Caspian Sea’s ecological system. I think that local and international environmental organizations should take a stand against Russia’s use of the Caspian Sea for military purposes in order to protect the ecology and biological resources of the Caspian Sea and demand compensation from Russia. Therefore, let’s take a public stand against Russia’s use of the Caspian Sea for military purposes, protect the Caspian Sea and prevent the killing of civilians.”

More people with a disability complained that their pensions were terminated without prior notice. The 67-year-old resident of Ismayilli Amrullah Orujaliyev told Meydan TV that his status as a person with a disability was canceled, and his appeals for social benefits and pensions were rejected. “What do they expect us to do, without notification or explanation, the pension is canceled,” said Orujaliyev.

Azadlig newspaper reports that the Russian “peacekeepers” in the Karabakh region did not let the cars of Azerbaijani servicemen pass through Lachin. According to the member of  Musavat Party, Karabakh veteran Faraj Karimli, those who could not pass the post called the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to make complaints. However, both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs informed them that they had no authority in this matter and suggested they contact the Ministry of Agriculture. Although the Ministry of Agriculture was contacted, they also told that they had no authority and advised the servicemen to wait until Tuesday.

Journalist Dashgin Aghalarli shared an investigation titled “From Occupation to Occupation”. The article notes that the reconstruction work in Karabakh is monopolized by the companies that belong to the members of the ruling Aliyev family. The company, which is said to be owned by members of the president’s family, is engaged in farming in the Karabakh region. According to the article, among the companies operating in Karabakh are companies owned by the family members of the chairman of the State Security Committee Ali Nagiyev, and the head of the Presidential Security Service Baylar Eyyubov.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan, held a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Bayramov. Lavrov‘s remarks raised eyebrows, with many arguing that Russia openly threatened Azerbaijan to cooperate. Lavrov said that Russia is interested in being the main mediator in the peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Political commentator Arastun Orujlu said that Russia tries to improve its economic relations with Azerbaijan to avoid sanctions. Moreover, according to Orujlu, Russia wants Azerbaijan’s activities in international organizations to be carried out in coordination with Moscow, and the continuation of the Russification of Azerbaijan through education is not only a cultural issue for Moscow but also a foreign policy priority.

Journalist Seymur Hezi argued that “the future of Azerbaijan depends on how it will position itself against Russia. Hezi wrote: A more dangerous step by Ilham Aliyev than the alliance agreement with Putin is to side with the suffocating Kremlin. There is no alternative to participating in sanctions against Russia.”

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