Updates from the land of fire[d] "reforms"

Wow, it has been a while. In fact, a year and two months since I shared my speech at the opening ceremony from Forum 2000 last year. 

But that is not why I am here again. 

I thought I vent out and what not a better place, then here, on my good old blog. 

So, what has been going on in Azerbaijan? 

A lot, actually. And I find it hard to keep up, especially as I work on the book about Azerbaijan, and things keep changing, so I keep going back to my earlier chapters and adding footnotes to names, institutions, or legislation that changed, was replaced or sacked [in no particular order that is]. 

So, first things first, the Azerbaijan parliament has been dismissed or dissolved, by itself (or by the president) - which is still against the constitution so the general understanding is that it was dismissed by the president. The new election set to take place on February 9, 2020. And plus, no one really gives a damn about the constitution or laws in Azerbaijan, especially when they are always in favor of the government. On December 4, two days after the parliament voted to dismiss itself, the Constitutional Court in Azerbaijan ruled in favor of the decision approving the call for an early election saying it was not really against the country's constitution.

The official reason (or based on what Bahar Muradova read from her statement on the day the parliament was dismissed) to assist the government in on-going reforms (note: read between the lines, please, there are NO reforms). You would be surprised (or not) to hear 99 members voted in favor - so all those members who have "tirelessly" said yes, to everything that president has told them to say yes to were kicked out. 

Remember one of my first posts here about "flock of sheep"? In case you don't, here is a reminder. 

The president has also sacked some of his high ranking officials. Including Ramiz Mehdiyev (81), the head of the Presidential Apparatus or as he is known in more candid circles - Don Corleone - and a man known for his allegiance to the former president Heydar Aliyev. 

The president has also reshuffled the cabinet of ministers as well as the Presidential Apparatus. But please observers, don't be fooled by what you are seeing. It is the same family, the same mindset, and the same interests running the country. If anything, the new government is going to be rougher than the previous one.

Early parliamentary election

Not everyone is happy (not that there was a time when everyone was happy in the country). In just two months, candidates have to register, prepare their campaign and run for the parliament. Well, if these are going to be free and fair elections that is.

The opposition thinks the time allocated is not enough. Former leader of opposition party Isa Gambar told Azadliq Radio that the decision is nothing but an attempt to set up a designated parliament.  

Others are considering boycotting elections. 

Meanwhile, government representative Ali Ahmadov [Deputy PM] said, "The truth is, the people have boycotted the radicals [this is how he refers to the opposition]. And as a result, no one wants to hear their [opposition] calls [for boycott]. 

FYI, on December 23, Azerbaijanis will vote in Municipal Elections. 

The Central Election Committee says there are no issues with having two elections in such close time.

In my humble opinion, we can expect a few possible outcomes:
1. all newly "elected" parliament members won't be ideologically much different the previous ones, although they may be a few decades younger than the recently dismissed MPs;
2. a few opposition representatives may be "allowed" to enter the parliament but have very little impact given the majority is still going to be represented by the members of the ruling party (note: read between the lines once again, likely to be split between Pashayev and Aliyev fronts);
3. some concession and negotiations may take place between the authorities and the opposition where the latter will be allowed to be present;

Retirement plans and wages

You may ask what happens to the members of the parliament (and other high ranking government officials) who don't get elected in the next election? They retire, but not like any average pensioner in Azerbaijan. They get to enjoy a cushy pension. Which according to some independent economists is unfair, and so to make things fair, retired teachers, doctors, for instance, should be getting the same amount of pension as retired parliament members. Especially when you factor in the time spent in "active employment". 

Here is how it works: the minimum pension in Azerbaijan has been raised to 200AZN as of October 2019. A parliament member's pension is 80% of their monthly income which is about 4 times higher than the current minimum pension wage. 

And, in addition, even if you have been in the parliament for ten years an MP can get at minimum 1000AZN - compared to 20-30-40 and more years of work that teachers, doctors put in before they retire. 

Example: with a work experience of 40 years a teacher gets paid 256AZN after retirement, while a parliament member, who has been at the parliament even for one term [thats just five years], gets around 1100AZN. 

Parliament member Fazil Mustafa, says it's a fair recommendation to make all pensions equal, or at least improve those of the teachers and others but ensuring equal pensions may strain the state budget. 

It was only in October this year that minimum wages were raised [likely fearing more social unrest amid growing tension between the general public and the authorities]. As a result, monthly wages were raised from 180AZN to 250AZN [approximately 150USD]. While a monthly pension was raised from 160 to 200AZN.    

Meanwhile, parliamentarian's wages have been on a steady increase. As of May 1, 2018 MPs in Azerbaijan receive 1,732AZN [approximately 1,000USD]. 

The cost of living in Azerbaijan was set at 180AZN in 2018. Also, it is worth noting that the cost of living between 2014 and 2018 increased by 48AZN.

It is not only the pension that sets officials apart from the commoners. Ramiz Mehdiyev was appointed the president of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (may I remind you that he is 81). Or, Novruz Mammadov who until he was "dismissed" served as the Prime Minister was appointed as the Vice-rector of Azerbaijan University of Languages. Or Heydar Asadov, former minister of agriculture was appointed the new rector of Azerbaijan State Maritime Academy.

In other news

*The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today the report on her visit to Azerbaijan, with recommendations on how to ensure freedom of expression, increase the number of lawyers and the quality of legal assistance in the country, and empower internally displaced persons (IDPs). 

 *PACE’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights has found that, on the basis of factual findings of the European Court of Human Rights, a number of individuals are “political prisoners” according to the Assembly's definition. Recalling the Court’s finding of a “troubling pattern” of politically motivated misuse of the criminal justice system, and the significant number of similar cases pending before the Court, the committee said that “fundamental reforms are necessary if Azerbaijan is to fulfill its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights”.

So in case, with all your good intentions and hope, you have been thinking there is a sudden wind of change in Azerbaijan, forget it, and I mean it. The only kind of wind you will see (or feel)- is the same iffy kind of wind that's been blowing away our future (and present). 

What you need to know about proposal for yet another referendum in Azerbaijan?

This would be a third time our country will have a constitutional referendum.

The first one was introduced by Heydar Aliyev. A year before his death, on August 24, 2002 Aliyev introduced a number of critical constitutional amendments giving the Prime Minister the power to act as an interim President- the power which previously rested with the speaker of the parliament- until the new round of elections. It was not the only critical amendment. “The most important changes over which the referendum is believed to have been organized were the cancellation of the proportional electoral system, which implied that deputies are to be selected only on the basis of single-member constituencies; the number of votes required for the election of President was reduced to simple majority where before two thirds of votes were required; and transfer authority to ban political parties from the Constitutional Court to public courts”. 

The day of the referendum was marred by violations, fraud, and yet, passed with 97percent vote.

In 2009, Ilham Aliyev, the son of Heydar Aliyev had his own referendum on March 18, which allowed him to cross off the presidential term limit among other critical amendments. Needless to say fraud and violations were abound. You know what they say, "like father like son". 

And just when we thought it cannot get any worse, Ilham Aliyev (who has been in power since 2003) decides to introduce a whole new series of amendments in another referendum. 

So what does he propose this time? In total there are 29 proposed amendments: 

- broadly speaking to reorganize the legislative as well as executive branches; 

- Aliyev suggests to extend his presidential term by another 2 years, making it 7 years in total; and have the right to announce elections at any time;

- Prime Minister would be replaced by first vice president and vice presidents; 

- Vice presidents will have immunity throughout their service. Unless vice presidents are caught "in action" committing a crime, he/she (most likely he) will be totally untouchable;

- President would have the right to introduce "extraordinary election" for president;

- Minimum of 35 age limit for presidential candidacy will be removed;

- The age limit for parliament member candidates would be reduced to 18;

- In case of human rights and freedoms violations, civil servants will only carry civic responsibility;

- Citizenship: according to current constitution, Azerbaijani citizen can not under any circumstance be deprived of his/her right to Azerbaijani citizenship. The new amendment suggests to remove "cannot under any circumstance"; 

- Land ownership can be restricted by law

What do these mean? Well it depends on who you ask. 

Alovsat Aliyev says that for instance removing "cannot under any circumstance" clause to the article on citizenship will increase cases of forced revoking. "This has to do with the government's interests in revoking citizenship from any citizen it wants", says the expert. 

On the amendment on land ownership, lawyer Yalchin Imanov says, "so basically now, property or land will be taken. Because up until now, constitution ensured immunity of property and the government was obliged to fulfill this immunity".

But not everyone is worried. Siyavush Novruzov, a parliament member thinks, "as the country develops, its security mechanisms improve, and reforms are carried out within state structures, it is important to make necessary amendments to constitution". As for the 7 year term limit, Novruzov had something even more outlandish to say. "Azerbaijan holds elections for three consecutive years [referring to presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections]. It takes one year to prepare for each election. That's why increasing presidential term from 5 to 7 is praiseworthy". 

Something tells me this referendum will go through just like all other referendums. And president will have all that he needs to ensure his son enters politics soon enough and it all will be fine in the land of Aliyevistan.

Ah Mallory from Huffington Post...

What does a board-certified nurse practitioner in psychiatry and founding partner of BabyNames.com have to do with parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan? In a normal world nothing but in a world where glitz can blind some people the connection isn't hard to find. 

Ms. Mallory Moss visited Azerbaijan and not just once mind you. In fact she wrote about her first visit to Azerbaijan here where she describes at length about her fears of visiting a muslim country, her prejudices and her pleasant surprise upon arrival to Azerbaijan that all her fears were unsubstantiated.  

Turns out, Moss's perception of Azerbaijan pleased the two sides so much that she received a visa to travel back to Azerbaijan this year to "observe" the parliamentary elections as Trend.az reports. 

I tried really hard tracking down the "US Foreign policy news website" where the article originally was "published" but all I was able to find were websites with references to the original story, which all pointed to Trend. 

I even checked Moss's HuffingtonPost profile but couldn't find anything there either.

I hope it is just my inability to find the original article and not Trend.az making up a story that was never written. 

But just in case it was indeed published on some "US Foreign policy news website", here are some of the quotes I wanted to highlight here: 

“Azerbaijan has a well-earned reputation for its progressiveness, tolerance of religious and ethnic groups and as pro-Western strategic outlook, the author wrote. “The voters were calm and genuinely interested and involved in the process. Fail safe measures were undertaken, including identification requirements, ink spray, and ballot tracking.”

“In fact, according to my sources, the government of Azerbaijan was willing to allow OSCE to observe, but wanted to simply know why the stringencies of the system would surpass any other country in the world.”

“There was transparency, both internally and externally. Gerrymandering is non-existent and the Azerbaijanis genuinely wish to have a free and fair election process,” the author wrote.

Can someone please explain to me how a nurse from US arrives in Azerbaijan to observe elections and has all of a sudden"sources" that advice and inform her on such matters as OSCE ODIHR mission decision to withdraw? 

Can also someone explain to me how an observer who doesn't speak Azerbaijani concluded that "voters were genuinely interested and involved in the process"? 

And finally can someone please explain it to me why Moss would write something as fictional as this, despite the country having over 70 political prisoners, its best people in jails, no space for any kind of freedoms? 

Perhaps Ms.Moss herself could explain this to me?  

*The original link to the foreign policy news website was found. I thank everyone who sent me the link to the original source. It is here. Bud doubts remain on how "well known" and "well respected" this news outlet really is.

The plastic/fantastic first lady takes all the votes in under two hours...

I wish this post was about the Barbie doll song. Remember? 

"I'm a barbie doll, in the barbie world

Life in plastic, its fantastic..." 

Although really its only these two sentences that are relevant to my blog post today.

She can hardly put a smile on her face (because of all the plastic surgeries she has had). She doesn't meet with the common folk much unless its an opening of some sort or some charity event (probably afraid her expensive clothes would get ruined). She is more interested in her channel bags and fashion and galas promoting the Azerbaijan that doesn't really exist (someone has to spend the money the husband steals). But she is Azerbaijan's first lady and the wife of authoritarian, ruthless president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. 

But turns out she also won with the highest number of votes in the parliament elections in Azerbaijan. But not only she was the winner she was also the fastest vote collector. According to official resources, in just two hours of the 39309 people who cast their ballots at the precinct no.14 38029 voted for their lady. 

I guess life is still fantastic despite all the fake plastic...

Read between the lines- Azerbaijan AliyevYAPtions

So elections are over in Azerbaijan. We all knew the results ahead of time. In fact, not sure what was the point of having these elections. Even the voter turnout says enough. According to official results, over 56% of voter turnout. According to opposition, half of that if not less. Some say it was even around 10%. 

But, given this is Azerbaijan, and given voter's opinions never mattered, not since 1993 at least, there is no point in getting into deep and long conversations about the numbers. 

Long story short, the ruling party won (as if thats a surprise), and the "independents" who made it into the parliament, well, thats why I have quotation marks around that word. 

Not surprisingly, so far, none of the candidates of the "Freedom" block made it to the parliament. 

The main election body in Azerbaijan, the Central Election Committe rang the usual bells- all is well, all is good, great elections, transparency and bla bla bla. 

In the meantime, reports of mass violations kept coming in from independent observers with evidence of not only the usual ballot stuffing but also Azerbaijan's all time favorite by now, the carousel voting. Some of its main stars even smiled to the cameras as they walked from one station to another. I guess its the irony. 

And looks like Azerbaijan is headed for more tough times, so my sincere apologies and condolences to whatever civil society community and media thats left in the country. Winter is coming and it ain't our usual HBO series type of winter. Its going to be ugly with lots of ugly people telling us what to do, more arrests, intimidation, and probably even death. 

Yes, that might be the only resemblance with GoT but thats beside the point. 

How I know about this? Well, its easy, just read- between- the- lines of what Ali Hasanov, the chief atrocities perpetrator (although he falls way below the chief chief atrocity perpetrator in Azerbaijan, the he-who-shall-not-be-named but I am going to name him anyway Ramiz The Allmighty Mehdiyev). Where was I? Right the statement of Mr.Mustache Hasanov. 

And here is what I mean. Hasanov said the newly elected MPs (even though many of them were in their seats already) will carry on our parliament tradition. Which basically means if you don't know already, waste time, make useless remarks with sometimes more useless promises, pass more critical bills, limit more freedoms, get paid, get fat, and forget about human values. 

Of course he said more than this, but it doesn't matter because its the same type of nonsensical diatribe. So I won't waste any more of my nor yours time my dear reader on what else he said and how we should read it. Because as I said, it is all the same. Just simply think opposite- if Azerbaijan official utters the word democracy, think authoritarian, if he/she says transparent elections think violations, ballot stuffing and so on and so forth. Its easy, like a game. 

So what's next? Well, nothing really. Another theater play is over. And we are yet to see its side effects and I have a feeling there is going to be many.

Oh and in case you are interested, here are storify stories on yesterday's elections by me and another Azerbaijan watcher Rebecca Vincent.

Azerbaijan's long tradition of carousel voting- we know it very well!

When you are from Azerbaijan and have seen a few elections in your life time, you know very well all the various kinds of violations and fraud that take place on the day of the elections. One of these frauds is carousel voting. While the name might remind you of your childhood memories, the act itself is something in some countries people might get arrested for, because it is at the end of the day, a version of fraud. 

So let me tell you briefly how it happens in case you don't know- a group of men and women get dressed and with their ID cards head to the polling station on the day of the election. They walk in, sign up, and fulfill their duty as a citizen. 

But that day, their duty isn't just voting. Their duty is to vote as many times as possible before they get caught (or unless they get caught). But even then, there is no guarantee that the very same people wont' show up at another precinct all set up for yet another "fraud vote". 

I consider myself lucky, because I have actually seen the "heroes" of this act myself. 

Two years ago, I was an independent observer during the Presidential election in Azerbaijan. I was at my precinct observing two polling stations. There were four other independent observers. I was the only one with a camera which startled the head of the polling station at first. He frantically demanded that I show him my press card which I didn't have to have as an officially registered observer. After nagging and questions which seemed to last a lifetime, I finally pulled out my media accreditation as well. Which shut him up, luckily but only briefly. Each time I took my camera out, he jumped up and down (certainly not of the excitement) and tried his best to divert my attention. Long story short, I received several terrible comments from a few teachers employed by the school calling me all sorts of names because I was "obstructing" their job which consisted of rigging votes. And they had no shame, they were doing it in front of my very own eyes, in public. 

But back to carousel voting and what I saw that day. 

So earlier I saw a woman who came wearing big sun glasses that covered most of her face. She had long hair in a ponytail. She was also dressed nicely. She came alone. I took a picture of her, thinking about why people in Azerbaijan like to wear sunglasses in closed spaces. 

Few hours later, as I stood in my spot watching people come in and register I saw the same woman, this time, with no make up and she of course ditched the sun glasses. This time she was with a kid. 

When I asked the jittery head of the polling station about her, he literally told me not to worry and that she wasn't voting again (even though as he was talking to me she took the ballot and went into the booth) and that she was simply "responsible for making sure people in her neighborhood all cast their votes that day". 

I didn't say much. I smiled. Stepped aside and watched the rest of the circus in silence. It was then when I realized there was no point. No matter how many international or independent observers were there that day, no matter how many questions I asked and comments I made, it was all decided a long time ago and there was nothing I could do. 

So I was not surprised at all, when I saw this video shared my Meydan TV with the head of the Lankaran District Executive Office giving orders to the "electorate" as to whom and how they should vote on November 1.

This is how Aliyev rolls folks. Oh and if you still think there will be different results, just make sure you are not betting that day, YAP will win with a bunch of fake "opposition" and "independent" candidates.

Life in a prison cell of a political prisoner

Prison is a terrible place. It is worse if you are there not because of a particular crime you have committed but because of the crimes others have committed but trying to frame you. In Azerbaijan this phenomenon is called political prisoner and have many of these folks. In fact, we have more political prisoners than in Russia.

One of these prisoners is Ilgar Mammadov, presidential candidate, leader of a political movement. He was arrested after a visit to a town Ismayilli. In 2013 mass riots broke out there with people demanding attention to their grievances. And they had many. Poor infrastructure, corrupt administrative officers and so on. 

Mammadov went to see what was going on. The two was surrounded by the military (yes, the government in Baku was that afraid this might end up having a domino effect on other nearby regions as well). There was little information coming out. 

Mammadov was arrested shortly after his visit into Ismayilli. He was accused of organizing mass riots against the government and sentenced to seven years. 

But that is the story of many political prisoners. All sentenced on trumped charges, with no proof. 

People of Ismayilli would have never protested if they had better life standards, if they had better access to social services, and proper infrastructure. They would have not went on the streets had their administrative office was not a place of corruption and bribery but a place that actually dealt with people's problems and addressed their issues. But no, it was easier to jail political activists especially in the run up to the presidential elections to get red of competition and teach others a lesson. 

Mammadov's imprisonment however wasn't an end to silencing him and preventing him from continuing his political work. He has been beaten too. 

But in Azerbaijani prison, when a political prisoner is beaten, threaten, intimidated- it means golden stars for prison guard and the head of the prison from Baku's prosecutor office. Its as if they are assigned special homework. And beating is just one of the exercise assigned by the ruthless teacher. 

Mammadov's lawyer complained but it means nothing. 

It means so little that he was only seen by a doctor 5 days after he was beaten. 

Mammadov however thinks there is a reason behind these numerous attacks- to force him into signing a letter of pardon, apologizing. 

But apologizing for what? For wanting to change Azerbaijan for a better? For standing up for his rights and for the rights of others? For being an honest man? 

Official Baku proved on many occasions that none of the above really matter. It is only about consolidating more power, crushing down on more independent voices, and making sure people live in a constant state of fear.

CIS observation mission in Azerbaijan

Vladimir Garkun, is the first deputy chairman of the executive committee of the CIS Secretary. 

These days he is in Baku to "review pre-election situation in Azerbaijan" reports a local newspaper Trend. 

But I can tell you what Mr. Garkun is going to say about the atmosphere already because CIS election observers have a great tradition of praising Azerbaijan's elections every time they swing by "to observe". 

In 2008, the CIS team published a report after its "monitoring" work concluding, "all conditions for the conduct of free, fair and democratic elections have been created in Azerbaijan". But their report should have said instead, all conditions for the conduct of biased, violated, undemocratic elections have been created in Azerbaijan. 

Just wait and see a similar report to come out if not with words such as "achievement", "development" and "democracy in full swing" or something of this sort. 

Sigh... here is to yet another set of undemocratic elections in Azerbaijan. 

The Battle of the AK Party: fighting their way through dark powers (impressions from an electoral rally)

 “We brought close to 9,000 people today and that is just from our neighborhood of Esenyurt”, said 48-year-old Abidin. “But there were also so many others coming from all over Istanbul. There were even ferries that carried close to 800 people today”, he added. Abidin was among designated drivers in charge of bringing people to the electoral rally organized by the AK Party and held in Istanbul’s Maltepe district on May 17. Interrupting Abidin’s approximate calculations, a young man standing next to Abidin, says there were three million people on the square. Looking back at square it is hard to calculate the exact turnout but certainly three million is an overstretch but the young man is certain its three million to be exact.  

The “parallels” are ought to get us but they wont win 

On June 7, Turkey will cast its vote for its new 550 seat Grand National Assembly in a party list proportional representation system. To make it in, the party must overcome the 10% threshold, which has always been disputed by the opposition groups. Because according to the present voting system, any votes cast below 10% are automatically transferred to the winning party. The threshold does not apply to the independents. 

The new Assembly will form Turkey’s 25th parliament. AKP is seeking 4th consecutive year in the government in these elections. If the party wins all 330 seats then President Erdogan will have the necessary backing at the parliament to change the constitution. But in order to bypass the referendum, the party needs 367 seats. AKP’s agenda includes switching to a presidential system, advancing the solution with the Kurdish rebels and revised constitution. 

But the Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu mentions none of these, as he took stage at the Maltepe Square yesterday. Instead, PM Davutoglu focused on AKP’s achievements since coming to power, and the vicious intentions of the Bermuda triangle of key opposition parties together with parallel structures to topple the party. He did not mention whom exactly these parallel structures represent but this is a political tool introduced by the then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shortly after the Gezi Protests and the corruption probe. The so-called parallel structures were after destroying Turkey and preventing its growth. 

Back on the stage Davutoglu was giving an example of a university entrance exam scoring calculation – four incorrect answers take one correct answer. AK Party constituted the only one correct answer while the opposition CHP, MHP, DHP plus the “parallels” were the incorrect answers. “They cannot come to power so instead they are planning to get together and get in the way of the AKP with their coalition. But they cannot win. How can they prevent us with Istanbul backing us up?! Are we going to teach them a lesson on June 7?” shouted Davutoglu with his cracking voice having traveled across 40 provinces already. “Yes” the crowd cheered back. Davutoglu repeats the question this time even louder, “Yes”, yells the crowd raising in the air the AKP flags they were given when coming onto the square. 

On the other side of the stage, some people were leaving. “It is normal, they have been here for hours now. They are tired. It is crowded and many of the families came with their children. People want to go home”, said Abidin as he phoned his last passenger who was missing before he headed back to the bus he was driving back to Esenyurt. 

As crowds continued to leave even with PM still addressing the crowd from the stage one rally attendant turned around and said, “They have done the most good. I am their big supporter and wanted to tell you this”, he says as he rushes off to join his bus. 

A 44 year-old state employee Ahmet (who preferred not to give his real name nor his place of work) confirmed what the other passer by said. “Everything is changing for the better. Look at these people [pointing at the leaving crowd], they might have no money in their pockets but as least they are peaceful”, said Ahmet. But is there anything Ahmet would like to see improve? He nods, “the salaries of state employees”. 

The rally organized in Istanbul was important for the ruling AK Party. This is one of the three biggest cities of Turkey. During last year’s presidential elections, over 3.5 million voters cast their ballots for the AKP. The party is determined to get just as much. That is why much effort was put in bringing as many people as possible to the electoral rally in Istanbul. “We are three million gathered here”, yelled presenter at the rally yesterday. It was not surprising that the young man who interrupted Abidin earlier on, also believed there were 3 million. 

But concerns mount about AKP’s plans once elected. Critics of the AKP say the party will do all that is necessary to diminish any separation of powers within Turkey’s political and legal system. There is also the issue of freedoms. In a recent interview with Today’s Zaman, the founder of Oy ve Otesi association (volunteer election observation organization), Sercan Celebi said, “After the Gezi protests, the majority of people have realized that they will not be able to lead their lives independently of the political process. The sphere of freedom has been restricted, and as long as we are not part of the processes, we realize that things will become worse”. 

Sitting on a bench and taking a rest after the rally, 66 year-old Ibrahim Sahin says although he is AKP supporter this should be their last term. “They should let go in the next elections” (which are scheduled for 2019). “This country was in shambles. I moved to Istanbul from Ordu in 1962-63 and I have seen it all – the difficulties. I remember even saying to myself that if this is the way the country is run then the end is imminent. Now, some fifty years alter I see a transformed Turkey. Things have changed to the better thanks to the work of the AK Party”. Ibrahim Sahin is retired state employee and he is also the first AKP supporter who was frank about AKP’s ruling style. “It is a matter of experience, you need to give others a chance to get experience”, he adds as he enjoys the sunset over Marmara. 

Will AKP give a chance to other parties in transparent elections or will it continue its grip on power? June 7 elections will show.

Yet another rigged elections

Azerbaijan haven't had transparent elections for about two decades now.

Unless of course you only listen to Azerbaiajani government officials who swear this to be otherwise. 

I have observed elections in Azerbaijan three times - and here, you don't have to try hard to spot violations because its natural. Carousel voting we have it. Stuffed ballots we have it. Election commission members claiming and calling you a liar when you spot them cheat, you have it. Indeed we have it all.

Today, Azerbaijan is holding its Municipal elections (December 23, 2014). Our municipalities were introduced in 1999 not because Azerbaijani government wanted to. But because we were supposed to have municipalities as part of recommendations and requirements for being Council of Europe member. 

Municipalities exercise very little power in Azerbaijan. They pretty much have limited or no budget whatsoever and mostly other government institutions treat it as a joke. 

The footage below was taken today. The cameraman filmed a woman stuffing the ballot box while the commission official was lying bluntly into the camera "they are happy with a vote turnout" and etc. He then turns the camera towards the woman who just stuffed the box and asks her why she did that. Immediately everyone at the polling station comes after him and calls him a liar. The rest is pretty self explanatory. 

This is the reality of Azerbaijani elections. Its all the same - presidential, parliamentary, municipal. I just don't understand the point of having them since they are all rigged anyway. 

enjoy!

oh and next time, whoever tries telling you there are free and fair elections in Azerbaijan, please don't buy it. it ain't true. 

I will show you...

I think this image sums it pretty well how the authorities in Azerbaijan are responding to all of the local as well as international human rights defenders, journalists, and others who care about the deteriorating situation in Azerbaijan. And they do this openly, without any hesitation.

Amid all the insanity, a moment of humor

Already yesterday there were reports that the Prime Minister lost his voice. Today at a rally in Van, as he began addressing the crowds, it felt like it wasn't PM Erdogan speaking at all. It was more like a voice over, of a woman, at the bring of her patience and voice. It was hilarious. It was difficult to take anything that came out with that voice seriously. I almost spit my food out as I was having lunch. Here is a short clip:

President tweets while Prime Minister bans

As Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan moved ahead with a ban on Twitter ahead of the local elections scheduled to take place on March 30th, the President of Turkey Gul, does not share the same sentiments. 

Sosyal medya platformlarının tamamen kapatılması tasvip edilemez.
— Abdullah Gül (@cbabdullahgul) March 21, 2014

Translation: "One cannot approve of the complete closure of social media platforms"

Whether its an attempt to play the good guy, is yet to be seen. Perhaps a step toward urging the Prime Minister to sack the court orders would show the true intentions. So far however, just a tweet.

Erdogan said he would ban Facebook and YouTube just few weeks ago. This time, without a warning though, except few fiery words at a campaign rally, PM vowed to shut down Twitter. And shut down he did- one of the "menace to society" as he called these platforms last summer is finally dealt with. Whats next?! A total Internet shut down?

Spring clean up in Azerbaijan- just in time for Novruz

Just in time- as Azerbaijani people get closer to celebrating Novruz- a traditional holiday welcoming spring- Azerbaijani government gives them a very nice spring present as part of the spring clean up. Instead of cleaning up the mess of corruption and their own wrong doings, they are after something else. On March 17th, the Sheki District Court sentenced Ilgar Mammadov and Tofig Yagublu to 7 and 5.6 years respectively. The two were arrested in February of 2013 during their visit to Ismayili, a region in northern Azerbaijan where people embraced 2013 with taking the streets and voicing their frustration with the social injustice and power abuse.

Ilgar Mammadov is the Chairman of the Republican Alternative Political Movement. He was meant to run in October 2013 Presidential Elections but due to his arrest was unable to. 

Tofig Yagubli is a journalist with the local opposition paper Yeni Musavat and deputy chairman of the opposition Musavat Party. The two were arrested on charges of inciting violence. Unlike the court and the authorities, Yagublu and Mammadov claim their visit had no such intention. According to a statement by the Institute of Reporters' Freedom and Safety, Mammadov and Yagublu went to Ismayilli to get first hand information of what was going on. 

If it is still not clear, let me chime in, the authorities were looking for an excuse to get the two arrested, perhaps they even developed a plan, but failed at implementing the original plan, when a new opportunity came knocking on their door. Aha! they said, how convenient, lets just arrest them when the two get to Ismayilli- there will be plenty of things then we could use against them. 

So here you have it- two more people in jail for what?! Isn't it clear that the only body responsible for inciting violence is the government itself?! How long and how many more arrests, detentions, and deaths, it is going to take for the international organisations like the Council of Europe to recognize that Azerbaijani government is is nothing short of an authoritarian state and that measures must be taken against? I guess not for a while... At least not as long as we have the oil, the gas, and of course, the caviar...

Precinct no. 16- where all the magic was happening

If there is any version of democracy in Azerbaijan then it comes in a form of stuffed ballot box. Because there was certainly a lot of it going on during the Election Day and the vote count. 

The precinct where I had the chance to observe- Yasamal second precinct no. 16- had two polling stations- number nine and number ten. Each had 6 members representing election commission- one deputy, two secretaries and three members. Most of the observers present at the precinct were the ruling party members with the rest being the teachers from the gymnasium where the polling stations were. There were four independent observers including me. I was the only one with a camera and journalist credentials. The magic was in the air all day long. It felt magical to be part of such skilled group of magicians. 

My presence was disturbing to the process and its implementers. It was clear from the looks and the constant attempt to have me occupied talking to other members of the election commission or the observers. As an observer one is allowed to walk around and watch the process, take photographs if need be. Walking however was strongly disapproved at these two polling stations. I was repeatedly asked to present my journalism credentials. The dislike was also clear from questions about my affiliation. At one point, local observers from polling station number 10 asked me repeatedly who I represented. Saying I was independent didn't help. Suspicious and dreadful looks continued.  

Not all of them were this evil. They still rigged and falsified elections, but they did it smiling, and talking to me, pretending I was naive enough not to see what they were doing. Some complemented me on my looks, others on how sweet I was. In reality, they all were looking forward to me being gone. I appreciated in fact the honesty of one of the members from the election commission who said "I don't like young girls who preach like this one". 

After that I left. I knew there was no point of me staying there- even if they left everything as it was when I was leaving the building, the job was done, the results were already determined...

I wish I was a superhero

Or at least had the powers of one. As I stood there at the local precinct where I voted myself there were many moments where I wished I had some of these powers. Stuffed ballot boxes (and so many of them); carousel voting (so much of this too); and those faces of local so- called "observers". But I don't have the super powers. Nor did I manage to change anything. I just argued with CEC representatives, made them recount votes and made sure the protocols were signed properly. At least for the time I was at the precinct. Maybe they changed everything after I left. 

I saw this woman twice for instance today at the same polling station. 

And so after a long day I am sitting home, reading articles and tweets and comments and can't help myself but wonder- what will happen to my country? Aliyev in his third term (which he added himself by changing the constitution) will put more people behind bars, choke whoever left of advocates and defenders and steel more. 

Surely there wasn't much to expect from these elections- its results were rigged from the very beginning. Everyone knew about this and all that was left was for independent observers and journalists to do what they do best- advocate for justice and truth. Did we succeed? Perhaps. There were a lot of videos, updates, and proof of violation. Will any of these help to change the results? Probably not. 

We are stuck for yet another term of a dictator whose cronies are rich and filthy and do anything it takes to keep the country and its people at its knees. No one cares about the future of Azerbaijan as much as a handful of people who want to see a real change. But with these elections rigged, rights violated, there is even less of a chance to see that change. 

But we have to continue our fight for democracy and keep on believing. Margaret Mead once said "Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have".

p.s.: Thank you all for following the election today, for all your support, retweets, hits, and comments!

Azerbaijan Elections- who, where, when? (recommended readings)

A friend posted these on Facebook, I thought I share them here too. If you want to get up to date about the election atmosphere in Azerbaijan then check these out. 

via Rebecca Vincent: Azerbaijan’s election day is here! Here’s my recommended reading list to get up to speed:

Meydan TV - Urgent: Presidential Election Rigged. Results Pre-announced in a mobile app failure http://www.meydan.tv/+pu8ha

Access - With no votes cast, Azerbaijani election app releases ‘final’ election results https://www.accessnow.org/blog/2013/10/08/with-no-votes-cast-azerbaijani-election-app-releases-final-election-results

Op-ed by opposition candidate Jamil Hasanli for The Guardian - Azerbaijan must use this election to end the Aliyev dynasty http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/08/azerbaijan-election-aliyev-dynasty-polls

Shaun Walker for The Guardian - Azerbaijan election marred by claims of corruption as dynasty looks set to win http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/07/azerbaijan-elections-ilham-aliyev-allegations

Leyla Najafli for BBC News: Azerbaijan election: the pre-determined president http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24450227?SThisFB

BBC News: Q&A: Azerbaijan's presidential election http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24402642

RFE/RL: Aliyev May Win Reelection For Third Term, But Fourth Not A Foregone Conclusion http://www.rferl.org/content/caucasus-report-azerbaijan-election-aliyev/25130805.html

Arifa Kazimova & Daisy Sindelar for RFE/RL - In Azerbaijan's Routine Election, It's The Differences That Matter http://www.rferl.org/content/azerbaijan-election-analysis--opposition-hasanl/25129384.html

Shahin Abbasov for EurasiaNet - Azerbaijan: Putting Inauguration Ahead of the Vote http://www.eurasianet.org/node/67599?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Miriam Lanskoy for the Carnegie Moscow Center – Azerbaijan: Opposition Unites Despite Crackdown http://carnegie.ru/eurasiaoutlook/?fa=53211

Katy Pearce & Farid Guliyev for The Washington Post - Can social media level the playing field in competitive authoritarian regimes? Azerbaijani pre-election report, part II http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2013/10/07/can-social-media-level-the-playing-field-in-competitive-authoritarian-regimes-azerbaijani-pre-election-report-part-ii/

Melinda Haring & Arzu Capulcu Geybullayeva for Foreign Policy – So What About the Other 364 Days a Year? http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/10/08/so_what_about_the_other_364_days_a_year

Thomas de Waal for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace – What Lies Ahead for Azerbaijan? http://carnegieendowment.org/2013/10/07/what-lies-ahead-for-azerbaijan/gpd3

Reuters - Azeri leader cracking down on foes before poll-rights group http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/10/01/uk-azerbaijan-rights-idUKBRE9900IQ20131001

Human Rights Club - Azerbaijan: an updated list of political prisoners http://civicsolidarity.org/article/800/azerbaijan-updated-list-political-prisoners

OSCE/ODIHR Interim Report No. 2 http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/106275

Azerbaijan: UN experts concerned by human rights restrictions, harassment of journalists http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=46193&Cr=azerbaijan&Cr1#.UlSNARa3KfQ

Amnesty International - Downward spiral: Continuing crackdown on freedoms in Azerbaijan http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR55/010/2013/en

Human Rights Watch – Tightening the Screws: Azerbaijan’s Crackdown on Civil Society and Dissent http://www.hrw.org/node/118310

And a few of my recent pieces:

Five things Aliyev doesn’t want you to know about Azerbaijan’s presidential election http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2013/10/five-things-aliyev-doesnt-want-know-azerbaijans-presidential-election/

PACE’s failure to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its Council of Europe obligations leads to sharp increase in political arrests http://platformlondon.org/2013/10/01/paces-failure-to-hold-azerbaijan-accountable-for-its-council-of-europe-obligations-leads-to-sharp-increase-in-political-arrests/

Fundamental freedoms under attack in the run-up to Azerbaijan’s presidential election http://fpc.org.uk/articles/636

Oops I did it again!

I wish this was about Britney Spears, pony tails, and high school. No, this is a moment my dear friends I call (and it just came to me as I was actually sharing this on Facebook) the "Oops I did it again" moment referring to fraud elections in Azerbaijan. 

Here is the scoop- the main electoral body- Central Election Committee of Azerbaijan wanted to be all high tech and released apps for Android and i-Phone. Not sure how far our IT sector has developed (even though authorities are claiming its the fastest growing non-oil sector) it obviously needs a lot more development at least in being a tat bit more discreet. I mean EVERYBODY knows elections will be falsified but at least as it has been in previous elections people have a day of hope before the results are announced. So unable to hide their excitement and start the celebrations early, CEC app already showing the results of tomorrow's elections. Guess what?! Aliyev wins! 

Here is the screen shot: 

Oops!...I did it again
I played with your heart, got lost in the game
Oh baby, baby
Oops!...You think I'm in love
That I'm sent from above
I'm not that innocent

yeah yeah yeah yeah

The Central Election Committee

About a month ago, I took my papers personally to the Central Election Committee here in Baku in order to get observer credentials during the upcoming elections. It went almost too smoothly- a printed out form, filled and signed, with two passport sized photos and a photocopy of my passport. But, I didn't get anything in return- like a receipt or a paper confirming my application. The guard (who was extremely kind and also surprised that I was applying for an observer credentials to begin with) took my papers and assured me that I should have them ready in three days. So imagine my surprise when I showed up at the CEC this afternoon and was told that they never received my papers. 

The man on the phone (I had to stand outside of the entrance and call from a phone attached to the wall) took the liberty of making a few jokes- your last name means "lost" (yes, if you take the first four letters of my last name it does have a meaning as such but really?) so maybe it was natural that papers got lost somewhere. Numerous times he asked me whether I applied individually and perhaps there was simply a problem. He then told me to call another extension number. I did. No one answered. I called back the man I spoke earlier. I asked him how is it that if there were any kind of issues with my application they never called the number provided on the paper. He first was surprised. "Which number?" he asked, I said the number that you asked me to provide on the paper when I came here. "Are you sure you came here yourself?" he asked again. No, I teleported my self-double.

Anyhow, surely I was frustrated. In the back of my head, I thought there was a slight little chance that I was never going to get it. But then SURPRISE! 

The man who joked with my name called back and said the credentials were actually ready. I am heading there now to get it. I will take a photo- it feels like a historic moment.

We are voting, but are we really?

October 9th, is the day when some five million Azerbaijanis are going to cast their votes and choose their next president. But are they really? The country haven't seen a democratic election for two decades- do its people even know or remember what its like and what it feels like to know your vote counts? To know that your vote is making a difference? 

I remember past voting- even when I studied abroad, I made sure I was there, I wanted my vote to make a difference (even if it never did). On October 9th, perhaps is one of those "days" when I want to believe that my being there is going to change something (even if in reality, it wont). 

Everyone knows that the elections are going to be falsified. Nobody is even hiding this. And this what is really sad about the faith of these elections and the faith of previous elections as well (not to mention the faith of this country and its fellow citizens who deserve so much more than what they are given- if they are given anything that is). After all the president did assure everyone that the elections will be falsified ehm, excuse me, held in free and fair atmosphere.

But even if I as many others go into these elections already knowing the results its the hope that really counts. I am going to vote, even if these are not the elections where my vote is going to make a difference. Not yet...