22.07.2024



Center for National and International Studies

FB Digest@VoxPOPULI

 

“You are only needed by this government to fight, die, and become disabled in the war or to work in their gardens, banks and supermarkets…”

(Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms

Afgan Sadigov, the head of the “Azel” TV website, was not allowed to leave Georgia. On July 17, journalist Afgan Sadigov was prevented from traveling from Tbilisi to Ankara. He was detained at border-passport control at the airport and sent back. Sadigov himself reported this to the Turan agency. According to Sadigov, he was told that he could not travel to any country other than Azerbaijan. “They did not tell me who imposed the ban on entry to a third country. They suggested that I contact the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs for an explanation,” Sadigov said. He suspects that the ban originates from Baku. “This is related to my recent critical writings and videos. Currently, there is no criminal case against me, but I know that as soon as I return to Azerbaijan, I will be arrested like other critical journalists. In Georgia, they threatened me and my relatives in Azerbaijan, demanding that I stop my criticism. Therefore, we wanted to leave Georgia,” Sadigov said. He noted that he has been living in Georgia since December 24, 2023. Sadigov went to Georgia for medical treatment and has not returned to Azerbaijan due to threats.

Lawyer Rufat Safarov reported that the political prisoner Fazil Gasimov has been on hunger strike for more than 35 days. Gasimov was transferred to the medical-sanitary unit as his condition worsened. When Gasimov was arrested, his weight was 75 kg and now he is 53 kg, said his brother Nizami Gasimov. “We and the lawyer insist a lot, asking him to stop the hunger strike, but Fazil ignores it and says he will continue till the end. Fazil said, ‘Bury me next to my father.'” Gasimov has been on a hunger strike to protest against the unjust criminal charges and the torture he endured at the start of the investigation. Fazil Gasimov was detained in Turkey on August 7, 2023, then brought back to Azerbaijan and charged under Article 204.3.1 of the Criminal Code (manufacture, purchase, or sale of counterfeit money as part of an organized group). The investigation alleges that he provided counterfeit money to opposition politician Gubad Ibadoglu, who was subsequently arrested around the same time last year. Recently, Gasimov appealed to the Prosecutor General, the Ombudswoman, and both local and international communities, claiming that his statements were made under torture. He has since retracted these statements, asserting that he did not provide counterfeit money to Ibadoglu and had never engaged in any discussions with him on any topic related to accusations.

Historian and member of the III Republic Platform, Yadigar Sadigli, has shared on his social media platform that he was summoned to the Baku City Main Police Department on Monday and that this was related to the Toplum TV case. Sadigli said that the interrogation at the police department lasted for 4.5 hours. “The questions were divided into three parts: the III Republic Platform, Toplum TV, and my personal livelihood”, said Sadigli.

An officer of the Azerbaijani Army, the battalion commander of the military unit, Major Taleh Aljafarov, a participant in the Patriotic War, has shared information about him and his fellow servicemen being detained for several hours, beaten, and insulted at the Naftalan city police department. He reported this to lawyer Rufat Safarov. According to Safarov, Naftalan police have detained a group of Azerbaijani army servicemen, including a major and a captain, who have received multiple awards and have been wounded in combat while they were walking in the middle of the city. They were taken to the police station, beaten, tortured, insulted, and spat on. Major Taleh Aljafarov, who has served in the army for 19 years, says he is on the verge of committing suicide. He is asking for support from the entire Azerbaijani society to ensure that this immorality and crime are legally addressed.

On July 19, the Baku Serious Crimes Court held the next hearing in the case of human rights activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev. Witness testimonies were heard during the court session. The next court hearing has been scheduled for July 26. Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was arrested in December 2022. He was charged under Article 221.2.2 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism with resistance against a person performing duties related to the maintenance of public order) and Article 289.1 (disrespect to the court). It is alleged that an incident occurred between him and Ulviyeh Alovlu (Muradova) at the Yasamal District Court. According to the charges, Bakhtiyar Hajiyev also used violence against enforcement officer Orkhan Abdullayev during this incident. In June last year, new charges were brought against the activist. These charges are mainly related to financial matters — specifically, the misallocation of grant funds. He has also been charged under Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship), Article 193-1 (legalization of criminally obtained property), Article 206 (smuggling), and Article 320 (use of forged documents) of the Criminal Code. In November of the same year, he was charged with an additional crime. Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was further charged under Article 213.1 (tax evasion) of the Criminal Code. Hajiyev denies all these charges, does not consider himself guilty, and claims that his detention is a political order.

On the occasion of National Press and Journalism Day, commemorating the 149th anniversary of the first publication in the Azerbaijani language, activists and political figures highlighted the number of journalists in Azerbaijan. As part of a major crackdown on independent media in Azerbaijan since last year, dozens of journalists were arrested on trumped-up charges.

Chairperson of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AXCP) Ali Karimli commented on the dire situation of journalism in the country, saying that journalists in Azerbaijan strive to maintain a free press at the cost of their freedom and sometimes their lives. Karimli: “Undoubtedly, there is no longer a day for national press in Azerbaijan; let’s not deceive ourselves. However, there are many brave journalists in Azerbaijan who strive to keep the free press alive at the cost of their freedom, remaining loyal to their pen and profession. Many of these brave journalists are currently living as political prisoners in jails. They risk imprisonment to keep the free press and the traditions of Zardabi alive in this country. Without a doubt, the representatives of the Azerbaijani national press are not the palace journalists who propagate lies and falsehoods but the pen bearers who strive to maintain a free press at the cost of their freedom and sometimes their lives. I congratulate our journalists who are political prisoners, those who keep the free press of Azerbaijan alive even in exile, and the few true journalists who continue to engage in journalism in Azerbaijan without betraying their profession despite the constant threat of imprisonment for not letting the last sparks of free press in the country die out. I demand freedom for the imprisoned journalists. I call upon our people to collectively defend these brave and decent individuals.”

Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani government invited journalists around the world to attend the Medi Forum event in Shusha. According to official information, 250 journalists from 50 countries are participating in the Media Forum. Exiled journalist and former political prisoner Afgan Mukhtarli commented on the event, saying that these “journalists” had come to Baku in business class at the expense of the Azerbaijani people, then flown by special plane to Fuzuli Airport, and from there taken to Shusha. “Aliyev has accommodated his guests in hotels owned by the Aliyevs in Baku and Shusha, and they eat in restaurants owned by the Aliyevs. According to our national mentality, they are likely also given pocket money.” Moreover, Mukhtarli also pointed out that there is no financial report on the costs of the Media Forum, and how the guests were welcomed and accommodated has not been disclosed. “None of these journalists, who came to Shusha to graze more than to attend the media forum, asked about the more than 20 journalists who are imprisoned. Not a single one of the 250 journalists had the courage to ask Ilham why Sevinj Vagifgizi, Nargiz Absalamova, and Elnara Qasimova were imprisoned. Why have the leaders of Abzas Media and Toplum TV been arrested? Two people who asked Ilham questions caught my attention more. Jordan Morgan from England and James Flu from the USA. Although both were presented as journalists, the name of the media they collaborated with was not mentioned. I searched for both individuals to see where they had written or if they had worked on any TV channels. There is no information about them. The so-called independent journalist from Georgia, Gela Vasadze, is actually a political scientist. Everything this government do is fake.”

Snap Parliamentary elections

Chairman of the People Party of Azerbaijan (AXP), Panah Huseyn, has stated that despite receiving signature sheets, Temirkhan Avaz Babirkhan oğlu, who was nominated by AXP, is unable to collect signatures. This is because the Binagadi branch of the International Bank is refusing to open an account for him, claiming that a citizen with the given surname does not exist in any system. Although a sealed certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirming Temirkhan’s existence, registration, and other details have been presented, the issue remains unresolved. The party chairman called this a complete absurdity, saying that as election day approaches, there is not enough time for the campaign, and bureaucratic barriers violate citizens’ electoral rights.

The children of former MPs have also been nominated as candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections. The list of candidates from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) includes the names of the children of two former MPs. One of them is Mahir Tahir ogly Suleymanli, who is nominated from the 56th Shabran-Khachmaz electoral district. He is the son of former MP Tahir Suleymanov. Suleymanov was a member of the Milli Majlis (parliament) from the 54th Shabran-Siyazan electoral district from 2000 to 2020. Another candidate from YAP is Samir Ahmad oglu Valiyev, nominated from the 20th Narimanov second electoral district. Valiyev is the son of Ahmad Valiyev, the rector of Odlar Yurdu University and a member of the Milli Majlis in the III and IV convocations. Additionally, the chairman of the Ana Vatan Party, Fazail Aghamali, stated that due to health reasons, he will withdraw from the parliamentary elections this year. However, according to him, his daughter, Gunay Aghamali, has been nominated from the 65th Salyan-Bilasuvar-Neftchala electoral district. Activists and independent media claim that elderly MPs are exploiting their privileged positions to benefit their children, which they consider to be clear nepotism and abuse of power.

Altay Goyushov, Chairperson of the Baku Research Institute, responded to these accusations by stating that the current system is designed to favor the ruling families at the top, while the rest of the population is left with only the bare minimum. “You are only needed by this government to fight, die, and become disabled in the war; to work in their gardens, banks, supermarkets, and so on; to troll for them in various languages; and to volunteer at the COP29, European Games, and likes of these events. You can also become a police officer, prosecutor, judge, or DTX agent, protecting them and framing those who oppose them. These are very prestigious jobs that require special skills. In short, everyone contributes to statehood in the best way they can. This is our national tradition.”

In the Democracy Index, Azerbaijan lags behind the majority of countries, including 33 African countries. The Economist Intelligence Unit has published the latest Democracy Index. Azerbaijan is ranked 130th out of 167 countries while neighboring countries Armenia is 84th and Georgia is 89th.


July 23, 2024