FB Digest@VoxPOPULI

 

“Corrupt officials accuse us of crimes we did not commit…”

(Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms

The father of Adil Baba, a member of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AXCP) Fariz Babayev, said that his son’s suicide is a direct result of politically motivated threats. “Let me say once again that everything started after the Party led a meeting at Adil’s house. Therefore, I consider my son’s suicide to be entirely political, and I believe that the reason for this suicide will be revealed over time. I eagerly await the day when everyone, from the lowest to the highest, who caused us this unbearable sorrow, will be severely punished before the law, justice, and a fair court. I believe my son’s suicide was directly related to his political activities, his fearless, open, and courageous exposure of injustices and unfairness in this country, and the pressures and threats, known and unknown to us, that he faced as a result. And I eagerly await the day when everyone involved in my son’s blood will face the harshest punishment from God and a fair court.”

Jailed Media Rights Expert Alasgar Mammadli has again faced mistreatment in court. According to his family, when he was taken out of the car, his hands were cuffed behind his back. He felt unwell in the courtroom and demanded his hands be uncuffed to drink water. He was kept alone in a room with his hands cuffed behind his back for two hours. After numerous requests, a phone call was made, and he was finally allowed to drink water. “This happened in the summer heat, in an airless room, to a person with breathing difficulties”, said Mammadli’s niece Gulnaz Mammadli. “Months later, we managed to get my uncle’s biopsy, only for the conditions to be manipulated to skew the biopsy results. Now, my uncle does not even want to undergo surgery because he is worried about what might happen to him. And he is very right to be concerned. It is evident how the state, which bullied the doctor who took the biopsy and did not protect him when he collapsed, would act if he came out of the surgery in a vulnerable state.” Alasgar Mammadli has been in detention for 121 days, and his life is at risk as he is suffering from an oncological disease.

In the Jalilabad district, war veteran Elnur Aliyev set himself on fire inside the Executive Authority building. His condition is reported to be serious. Since the end of the Second Karabakh War, over 80 veterans have committed suicide in Azerbaijan. The veterans who committed suicide attributed their actions to social issues, neglect, or governmental corruption.

On July 9, the pre-trial detention of investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, who was detained in connection with the “AbzasMedia case,” was extended. Journalist claims he was arrested for investigating corruption involving state officials. According to Rasul Jafarov Babali’s lawyer, the Khatai District Court extended Babali’s detention by 2 months and 7 days. The lawyer stated, “During the hearing, the defense argued that Babali’s detention was unfounded and submitted a counter-petition to replace the detention with house arrest, but the court upheld the investigation body’s request.”

On July 10, the Baku Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Gadim Babayev, reviewed the complaint of Sevinj Vagifgizi (Abbasova), the editor-in-chief of “AbzasMedia“. According to the journalist’s lawyer, Elchin Sadigov, the appeal was against the decision not to place the journalist under house arrest. On July 3, the Khatai District Court denied the defense’s request to place Vagifgizi under house arrest. The Court of Appeals rejected the appeal. Sevinj Vagifgizi said the following during the court hearing: “Corrupt officials accuse us of crimes we did not commit”

Corruption and Government

A new journalistic investigation has revealed that 43-year-old Anar Mammadov has spent millions of dollars franchising the American fried chicken chain KFC in the UK. Mammadov’s investments in the KFC network are part of his business portfolio in Britain. According to records obtained by “Transparency International UK” from the UK Land Registry, this portfolio includes real estate worth over $30 million on some of London’s most expensive streets. Most of this real estate was acquired while his father was the Minister of Transport in oil-rich Azerbaijan. Relatives of President Aliyev have also invested hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate in Britain. When Azerbaijani media first reported on Mammadov’s purchase of KFC restaurants in the UK at the end of 2022, his father, former Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov, claimed that his son did not own a single restaurant in Britain. However, an investigation by Azadlig Radiosu (Radio Liberty) has uncovered that Anar Mammadov currently owns at least 20 restaurants in the northwest of England. He has been using an anonymous offshore company to make these investments for at least the past 10 years.

Snap Parliamentary Elections

Two political parties, the Musavat and Republican Alternative (REAL) parties have nominated their candidates for the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 1. On July 8, the Musavat Party nominated candidates for 27 electoral districts. Among the candidates are the party’s Chief of Staff Gulagha Aslanli and former Chairman of the Assembly Nushaba Sadigli. The party’s statement mentions that discussions regarding the nomination of candidates from other districts are ongoing, and appropriate decisions will be made in the coming days.

The REAL Party has nominated candidates for 13 electoral districts. Among the candidates are the party’s leader Ilgar Mammadov, Political Committee member Natig Jafarli, former Member of Parliament Erkin Gadirli, and lawyer Rasul Jafarov. To register as a candidate with the Central Election Commission, each nominee must collect signatures from 400 voters in their respective electoral district. On September 1, elections will be held in Azerbaijan to fill the 125 seats in parliament.

Chairperson of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AXCP) Ali Karimli said that they are reviewing their decision on whether to run for the elections or not.  Karimli: “We’ve discussed the decision of whether to participate in or boycott the election with the heads of our party’s Baku and rural branches and the Presidium. These discussions have also taken place in the National Council Coordination Center. However, the final and official decision regarding the snap parliamentary election scheduled for September 1 will be made this weekend at the session of the AXCP Supreme Assembly. The delay in our decision is due to our desire for a thorough discussion and the issue of finding a venue. Despite multiple requests, state authorities have not provided a venue for the AXCP Supreme Assembly session. Therefore, we are compelled to hold the session in a cramped setting at the home of an AXCP member.”

The majority of AXCP functionaries and leaders of AXCP and the National Council who have participated in the discussions so far have suggested boycotting the elections, considering that these snap elections will be conducted in a repressive and non-competitive environment, will be massively falsified, and will not reflect the will of the people.

“Two days before making our final decision, we are ready to hear the suggestions of a wider circle of party members and social media activists. What do you say, dear compatriots, participation or boycott?”, asked Karimli on social media.