Center for National and International Studies

 

FB Digest@VoxPOPULI

22.11.2021

In a country where human destinies are destroyed, there is no need for a teacher to be honored.”

Post War Situation. Problems of veterans and families of the martyrs.

Azadlig newspaper reports that war veteran Ulvi Isgandarov who was only 24, committed suicide. Isgandarov was struggling with the psychological traumas of the war and financial difficulties, according to his close ones. Like many war veterans, Isgandarov was denied to receive any state support. According to his former teacher, Isgandarov would reject to commemorate any celebration saying that “our land is still under occupation, the economic situation is very tough, and there is nothing to celebrate.”

Reacting to the recent cancellation of pensions, head of APFP Ali Karimli condemned the police violence against Karabakh veterans who took to the street to demand their rights. Karimli added that the government should urgently resume the payments of their pensions!

Commenting on the tension on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, Ali Karimli said that now it is clear what was behind the tension on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border. According to Karimli, in his recent interview, Putin revealed the true purpose of his administration when he urged about the “great need for the efforts of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to ensure stability.” Karimli also added that the reason why the Azerbaijani government was circulating populist propaganda about Zangazur, Goycha, is connected to the same purpose of the Russian government to cement its presence in the region.

Gubad Ibadoghlu shared the same opinion adding that Putin‘s new plan includes the increased role of Russia in resolving the issues in the region.  

Journalist Afgan Mukhtarli summarized the events of the past week calling the current situation ‘terrible.” According to Mukhtarli, the problem is getting worse as more people are arrested on trumped-up charges while the Supreme Court acts as if it was Mozambique’s supreme court that sentenced more than 100 political prisoners for bogus accusations.

Governance, corruption, transparency

The National Council of Democratic Forces shared a statement on the new wave of repressions in Azerbaijan. The statement reads: The Azerbaijani government has lately intensified political repression in the country…The government should be aware of what it has done, recognize that it is not on the right path, and should correct its mistake without delay. The National Council also expresses its dissatisfaction with the inadequate response of the international community to the restored repression in Azerbaijan. The National Council considers that sufficient pressure mechanisms should be put in place on the government of Ilham Aliyev, including the targeted sanctions, in order to guarantee human rights and liberties in the country.” The National Council also called on the people of Azerbaijan “to protest more and more effective against the current policy of the government, which confronts our national interests and causes disaster to our country.” The statement ended with an address to the people: As a nation, we should know that our destiny is in our own hands. We should realize that we are all accountable for the future of our state and nation, and we should try to organize more and participate in a peaceful struggle.”

In the light of current repressions, the chairman of the National Council, professor Jamil Hasanli renounced the honorary title of “Honored Teacher of the Republic” given to him by President Ilham Aliyev. Hasanli cited recent unjust political arrests in the country as the reason for his decision, saying that “in a country where human destinies are destroyed, there is no need for a teacher to be honored.” Hasanli added that from the moment this statement is published, the relevant state bodies can accept it as an official statement, and he will hand over the certificate and badge of the honorary title “Honored Teacher” signed by Ilham Aliyev to the relevant state body as soon as he returns to Azerbaijan. “

Azadlig newspaper reports that a bilateral meeting between the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia is scheduled for December 15 in Brussels. An agreement has been reached between the Azerbaijani and Armenian defense ministers to establish direct contact.

Human Rights and Liberties

Twenty one human rights activists, heads of NGOs, and media representatives have appealed to President Ilham Aliyev to release political prisoner Saleh Rustamli, who is currently on a hunger strike. Protesting against the false accusations that he was charged with, Rustamli started a hunger strike in prison.

Azadliq newspaper reports that Agil Humbatov, a resident of the Khazar region, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for posting a video on social media demanding child support from the President. He was first sent to a psychiatric hospital and then to a so-called criminal detention center. A few days ago, a court found him “guilty” of stabbing a fellow citizen and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

Activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev informed his followers on FB that the anonymous phone calls and death threats he used to receive on a daily basis have stopped after a lengthy legal procedure. Hajiyev wrote: finally, it has been for more than 24 hours that I have not received messages from anonymous numbers on my WhatsApp praising Ilham Aliyev, insulting the opposition and activists, I have not received calls between 2-3 o’clock in the morning, I have not received death threats with photos of axes, knives, and pistols. People who receive hundreds of such anonymous messages a day would know how a pleasant feeling it is. A long process, albeit a partial one, has yielded a result, and it is a very satisfying feeling.”

It is reported that the Supreme Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan fully acquitted four people – former NIDA members Rashadat Akhundov, Rashad Hasanov, Uzeyir Mammadli, and member of the REAL Political Committee Zaur Gurbanli, and decided to pay a total of 188,000 manats as compensation.

Economy and Social Issues.

Head of ADW party Gubad Ibadoghlu shared the recent statistics of price increase with his followers on FB. According to Ibadoghlu, Azersun increased the prices of some goods, cereals peas, buckwheat, bulgur, wheat, beans, salt, and other products from 33% to 40%. Moreover, the main bakery has raised the prices of bread and flour products by 5-10 kopecks. Ibadoghlu added that under these circumstances, salaries, wages, pensions, and benefits should as well be raised to meet the increasing prices.

Fuad Gahramanli wrote in his FB post that Iran has cut off the gas supply to Nakhchivan. According to him, only apartments are supplied with gas at the expense of reserves in warehouses. Therefore, gas supply has been suspended in all departments and enterprises in the autonomous republic. Gahramanli sarcastically called it “the Muslim solidarity that Iran demonstrates during the cold winter months.”

Professor Altay Goyushov shared new research by Baku Research Institute focusing on side incomes. Goyushov said that, under current circumstances, “neither a ministry employee who receives a package along with his salary, nor a police department employee who receives a bribe in addition to his salary, or a doctor who is more dependent on the patient than a meager salary increase, know how the corrupt, thief government deprives them of welfare. According to Goyushov, providing the citizens with high wages is a threat to both corruption and authoritarianism. “That is precisely why the government is interested in unofficial income in the form of packages instead of paying high salaries, and by doing so, it aims to make the citizens dependent on it in every possible way.”

Investigative journalist Mehman Huseynov shared the statistics of the increase in oil price and wages since 2006. Huseynov argued that the claims by the government about the development are “just deception.” Huseynov added that although today the minimum wage has increased by 200 manats since 2006, the price of food, water, electricity, and gas raised even more. The journalist concluded that the majority of the citizens don’t benefit from oil revenues, and the veterans commit suicide because of poverty.


November 23, 2021







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