FB Digest@VoxPOPULI

 

“The government is aware of the growing discontent, particularly socio-economic grievances, official corruption, and lawlessness, but is unable to address them or make any substantial improvements…”

(Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms

“The high-ranking officials of the detention center administer torture under the ‘No to Torture!’ slogans posted on the walls by the Ombudsman”, wrote political prisoner Ulvi Hasanli. Hasanli revealed shocking facts about the torture in Azerbaijani prisons. Currently jailed, journalist Ulvi Hasanli is the head of AbzasMedia. He was framed and imprisoned for investigations exposing the Azerbaijani officials’ corruption scandals. He prepared a report on torture based on the abuses he witnessed and heard about in the detention center where he is being held. Hasanli writes: “In this article, I will discuss how the Baku Detention Center No. 1 has become a center of torture rather than investigation. Firstly, it should be noted that despite multiple complaints to the leadership of the Penitentiary Service, the detention center management, and the Ombudsman regarding the tortures, no serious measures have been taken. Consequently, I decided to document the instances of torture and inhumane treatment that I witnessed and heard about, and compile a small six-month report. I was arrested on November 20, 2023. Since November 22, I have been held at the Baku Detention Center, commonly known as the “Kurdakhani prison.” In the initial weeks, due to frequent court visits, I was not very aware of the incidents in prison. However, from December 20 onwards, I began to hear about systematic torture cases. Starting from January of this year, I began counting the instances of torture. The conditions in the Baku Detention Center No. 1 have reportedly been dire, with numerous accounts of physical and psychological abuse of inmates. This article aims to bring attention to these human rights violations and urge for necessary reforms and interventions.” Hasanli writes that prisoners are typically tortured between 9 and 10 in the morning. Prisoners who are detained for violating rules or suspected of committing crimes are brought to the “cells” in the evening or in the morning and shackled to the “reşotka” (bars) partitions. Around 10 in the morning, the guards begin to punish these prisoners through beatings, threats, and insults. Torture has become a routine management practice of the Penitentiary Service. Imagine waking up in the morning to have breakfast or start reading a book, only to be interrupted by shouting and sounds of torture. This method not only punishes the prisoner but also poisons the day of other inmates and indirectly serves as a lesson to them.” Moreover, Hasanli mentions that torture chambers were deliberately concealed under the name of “storages” during the visit of the minister. The Minister of Justice, Farid Ahmadov, visited the detention facility on May 10. In the days leading up to his visit, there was significant preparation, including repairs and painting. During this process, they installed doors with ventilation grilles on the iron-barred doors of the cells, similar to other cells, and labeled them “Warehouse.” In this way, the Penitentiary Service’s leadership deceived the new minister. In his report, Hasanli states that the officials primarily responsible for torture are Jeyhun Hajiyev (Lieutenant Colonel), Javid Gulaliyev (Captain), Parviz Guliyev (Sergeant), and Etibar Piriyev. “In the first six months of 2024, I have documented 58 cases of torture and inhumane treatment. These are only the cases I have personally counted and witnessed. Now, imagine the scale of torture and mistreatment in temporary detention centers and prisons. These incidents occur not only in the 8th block where I was detained but also in other blocks and floors.”

According to lawyer Rufat Safarov, the police in the detention center demanded jailed former diplomat Emin Ibrahimov to share the password of his mobile phone. When Ibrahimov refused to give the phone password, he was subjected to electric shocks. As he insisted on not doing what they said, the police brought in a baton and told Ibrahimov, “Either give us the phone password, or we’ll insert the baton into you now.” The former diplomat had to share his phone password after this threat. He is currently continuing his hunger strike for almost ten days. He told the lawyers that he would continue “until the end.” Another political prisoner, researcher Fazil Gasimov, has also been on a hunger strike for over 45 days in protest against his unjust detention.

The member of the “Young Veterans” Public Union, veteran Bahram Nuriyev, has attempted suicide. Due to the incorrect administration of his treatment and his poor psychological state, he shot himself in the Gabala district. The bullet injured his fingers and entered his abdominal cavity. He was brought to the Republican Hospital overnight, where CT and X-ray scans were conducted. Doctors have indicated that it is currently not advisable to perform surgery to remove the bullet. His condition will be reassessed in a few days to determine whether the bullet should be removed. At present, his condition is stable. Two war veterans have committed suicide this month. One set himself on fire, and the other shot himself. Both were dissatisfied with the government authorities. Since the end of the Second Karabakh War, around a hundred veterans committed or attempted suicide.

Commenting on the ongoing repressions and veteran suicides, the director of Baku Research Institute Altay Goyushov said that “the government is aware of the growing discontent, particularly socio-economic grievances, official corruption, and lawlessness, but is unable to address them or make any substantial improvements.” As a result of the current situation, the regime resorts to repression to deepen fear and intimidation argued Goyushov.  “However, repression is a temporary measure with very short-lived effectiveness. It doesn’t strengthen the foundations of power; it’s akin to a makeshift solution, like hammering a nail into a bursting water pipe. I am convinced that if the government doesn’t change its course soon, it will become its own biggest victim. I am also sure that the government sees this too. Will the government try to make real, fundamental changes? I don’t know. Systemically, it is weak, making it difficult to take necessary actions to improve the situation. Its weakness prevents it from taking adequate steps. However, the grim perspective for society is that, as a result of the government’s decades-long policies, society itself is also in crisis. It cannot distinguish between right and wrong or know what it wants. Those who wish to be an alternative to the government are also in a corrupted state. They are no better than the government. This means society is also in a stalemate. We are in a deep and seemingly inextricable crisis.”

Chairperson of the Musavat party, Arif Hajili, said that Party members who plan to run in the upcoming snap Parliamentary elections face legal violations, threats and provocations. Hajili: “So far, the candidacies of six Müsavat representatives for the snap elections to the Milli Majlis have been registered. The registration process will continue in the coming days. One of the legal violations we are encountering at this stage is the attempt to obstruct the registration of Müsavat candidates in some electoral districts. Some heads of the District Election Commissions are using bribery, provocation, and threats to try to remove our candidates from the election race. These incidents, along with some local government structures and election commissions calling voters to inquire about their signatures on Müsavat candidate petitions, not only constitute pressure tactics but are also serious legal violations. We are precisely aware that most of the candidates participating in the election do not collect signatures at all and are not required to comply with the bureaucratic procedures demanded of Müsavat candidates.”

Due to COP29 that Baku is going to host in autumn, vocational, secondary specialized, and higher education schools in Baku and Sumqayıt cities, as well as Absheron district, will switch to remote education. This decision is reflected in the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers. According to the resolution, from November 12 to 22, 2024, vocational, secondary specialized, and higher education levels in Baku and Sumqayıt cities, and Absheron district will be conducted remotely (distance learning). Additionally, the autumn break period for general education institutions (excluding special education institutions) operating in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been changed. According to the decision, the autumn break for general education levels will be from November 12 to 22, 2024. Previously, this period was from November 16 to 20.

Moreover, it is reported that in Baku some wedding venues will suspend events during the COP29. The pro-government “Report” information agency has disseminated this information. The article states that some wedding venues around the Baku Olympic Stadium, where the event will take place, are not accepting reservations for November 8 to 22. Business owners justify this by stating that there will be many guests in Baku during that period and they are taking this support step to avoid congestion.

Goyushov provided a sarcastic comment on the new changes in Baku due to COP29. “Overall, it seems to me that during COP29, aside from the uniformed volunteers, Azerbaijanis will not be allowed to go out on the streets. They’re doing the right thing; they’ve created such a beautiful and charming city, and when you’re on the streets, you ruin that appearance. On the one hand, there are beautiful, shiny buildings, and on the other hand, there are people with faces full of problems. We cannot spoil the impression of our country among the guests. Walking around with this miserable appearance is detrimental to our statehood. It’s the same in Turkmenistan. When honorable foreign guests arrive, Turkmens are forbidden to go out on the streets.”

In Azerbaijan, discussions about the increasing cost of living have become almost a daily occurrence, particularly regarding the rising prices of everyday consumer goods. According to research conducted by the Baku Research Institute, there has been a notable decrease in the value of 100 manats over the past five years. This study reveals that 100 manats held significantly more value, enabling consumers to buy more products five years ago compared to manat’s current worth. The findings highlight the increasing economic pressures on the population as the cost of basic necessities continues to climb.