01.08.2022



 

 

 

Center for National and International Studies

FB Digest@VoxPOPULI

 

The West that ignores democratic values and acts purely for their own interests, is a serious threat to everyone, to us, to their own citizens, and humanity as a whole.”

(Lack of) Human Rights and Liberties

Mutallim Oruj, who was arrested on trumped-up charges after being deported from Germany, said that Najaf Aburshu, the head of the investigation group of the Anti-Narcotics Department, and Guliyev Elman, the head of the department’s chief operations, put drug in his pocket shortly before his arrest. Oruj told his lawyer that he was subjected to severe torture at the police station in Guba district and the police officers threatened to rape him. Recently, Pünhan Karimli, another political activist deported from Germany, was sentenced to 6 years in prison on false charges.

Director of Baku research Institute Altay Goyushov said that by deporting Azerbaijani activists from Germany, the German government disrespected the democratic values it stands for. Goyushov’s post read: “The German government continues to hand over political migrants, and the Azerbaijani government continues to persecute and imprison them. This behavior of the German government is a clear, demonstrative disregard of values for the sake of interests. Germany, Europe, and the West in general, which ignores democratic values and acts purely for their own interests, are a serious threat to everyone, to us, to their own citizens, and humanity as a whole. European Union and German officials came here and held a formal meeting with civil society members, took pictures for the sake of propaganda, and then continued their anti-democratic cooperation with corrupt authoritarianism. Such a West is no different from Putin‘s Russia.”

Exiled Journalist Afgan Mukhtarli said that by signing a gas deal with the Aliyev regime, the EU is only deceiving itself. Mukhtarli wrote: “Ukrainian cities were hit by the Russian missiles fired from the direction of the Caspian Sea. Meanwhile, Ilham Aliyev is holding a parade with the Russian fleet in the Caspian Sea. Aliyev is loyal to Putin. The EU is deceiving itself. Let Ursula Von der Leyen sign a thousand declarations, and let Germany hand over all political immigrants to Aliyev. None of these will work. Aliyev will always choose Moscow.”

The General Prosecutor’s Office issued a warning that social network users are prohibited from disseminating information without checking with state institutions. Journalist Khadija Ismayil reported that several journalists, social activists, and human rights defenders are called by the police and threatened not to post about the army on social media. Ismayil said that “if they really want to protect the army, they should first eliminate crimes and corruption.” On July 28, the Prosecutor’s Office warned Ruslan Izzetli, the former chairman of the “D18” Movement. Ruslan Izzateli told Meydan TV that the intervention of the General Prosecutor’s Office in how people express their thoughts is another form of censorship and, of course, a violation of freedom of expression. Izzetli said: “I was warned about the post I wrote on June 26, Armed Forces Day. I wrote that if Ilham Aliyev and his team go to Karabakh today and hold an event there, veterans and soldiers have given him that right. Unfortunately, the problems of veterans and servicemen were not solved even on Armed Forces Day. When they said that I had no legal basis and facts for my post, I stated that I had freedom of expression. I added that there are enough facts and objections to justify my every sentence.”

Government, Transparency, Corruption

Azadliq newspaper reports that the person who defrauded the veterans was the nephew of the executive head of the Guba region Ziyaddin Aliyev. The State Security Service arrested a person named Elvin Aliyev, who committed fraud against veterans. Aliyev was detained on July 25, charged with articles 178.2.2 (repeated fraud) and 310 (usurpation of the powers of an official) of the Criminal Code, and legal measures were taken against him.

Minister of Education Emin Amrullayev stated in a press briefing that by the end of 2026, 137,000 teachers would be required to take exams for certification, and 68,000 staff will be involved in the differential salary system. Salaries of teachers who show the best results in the certification process will be increased. However, Amrullayev did not talk about the future of the teachers who would have bad results in the exams. Chairperson of ADWP Gubad Ibadoghlu said that “at present, there is great concern about certification, especially among older teachers, many of whom are protesting such an evaluation system, and some are even calling on their colleagues to boycott certification.” Ibadoghlu added that the Union of Free Teachers and other organizations specialized in the field of education should organize discussions and debates and take steps to protect the rights of teachers.

Member of APFP Fuad Gahramanli said that the Olympic sports centers, once built in almost every region at the expense of millions, now function as private facilities for executive heads of government in the regions. According to Gahramanli, although all maintenance costs of these centers are paid by the state, those who want to use the services of those facilities have to pay monthly subscription fees.

According to Ilham Aliyev‘s new decree, the name of the Ministry of Education was changed to the Ministry of Science and Education. Two new agencies were established under the Ministry of Science and Education with the new decree. These are the State Agency for Science and Higher Education and the State Agency for Preschool and General Education. With the new decree, 37 institutes of the former Azerbaijan National Academy of Science (ANAS) were subordinated to the Ministry of Science and Education, and four museums within ANAS were moved to the Ministry of Culture. The new structure and status of ANAS will be prepared within three months. Civil activist Zohrab Ismayil said that the institutes of ANAS should have been placed under the administration of the state universities depending on their profiles. Ismayil wrote: “Science and education should not simply be united under the name of the ministry. Instead, more authority should be given to the universities where scientific discoveries and research should take place. In the universities, promising personnel should be trained, and therefore interest in science and education would increase. But on one condition: universities should govern themselves, and academic freedoms should be established.”

Chairperson of Musavat Party Arif Hajili commented on the new changes at the Ministry, saying that a mere name change should not be presented to the public as a reform. “It is clear to everyone that this change is a continuation of the struggle over gaining authority between two forces represented in power”, said Hajili. Activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev shared a similar opinion saying that “just because of the change of name and structure, there will be no serious progress in the development of science.” According to Hajiyev, these structural obstacles in the field of science, and problems in the field of education have reduced the potential of human resources.

The commander of the Ground Forces, General Anvar Efendiyev, and the commander of a military unit Colonel Vugar Isbandiyarov severely wounded when a landmine exploded in Kalbajar. According to reports, Isbandiyarov’s left leg was amputated, and his right leg has numerous fractures.

 

 


August 2, 2022