Democracy For Azerbaijan

Afgan Mukhtarli is an Azerbaijan investigate journalist who was living in Georgia. On 29 th of May his wife has reported of him missing. Afgan Mukhtarli and his wife has asked for asylum from Georgian government in 2015 because they were afraid for their safety due to   Afgan’s investugations about corruption of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev. Lawyer of Afgan Mukhtarli have spoken to him and said “ Afgan Mukhtarli was abducted in Tbilisi by plain men who spoke Georgian.   The men tied him took into the car and brought him to the border of Azerbaijan and Tbilisi. Afgan Mukhtarli has told that when they were crossing the border, these men had put 10.000 euros into his pockets so Azerbaijani police could blame him of smuggling. His wife said “Afgan is arrested because of his posts anti-Azerbaijan government. HRW:   Afgan had escaped from Azerbaijan government to Georgia to find safety but it seems that he was not enough far from Azerbaijani government. Gro...

Mehman Huseynov is famous Azerbaijani blogger and journalist.   He was always participating in rallies and taking pictures and posting on social pages. I had a chance to meet him In person in rally on 12 October 2013 in person. I remember Mehman holding his camera still remaining positive with a smile on his face. Mehman is also human rights defender. He has documented corruption practices in Azerbaijan. He is also editor in chief in Sancaq which is famous among Azerbaijani people on Facebook and youtube. He got arrested on 3 March and sentenced to 2 years in prison.

Wife of Azerbaijan President Mehriban Aliyeva is vice president now Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has appointed his wife as vice president. It means If he dies Mehriban can take over his responsibilities as a president. New changing in constitution is just tightening Aliyev’s power in our country. Before Mehriban Aliyeva was first lady of Azerbaijan. Vice president position has been established after changes in constitution which was introduced in 2016’s referendum. Aliyevs are thinking of new ways of turning Azerbaijan into monarchy. They have been in power since 1993. People have no freedom. When people want to stand for their rights they are arrested and accused of smuggling, drugs and hooliganism.

Ilgar Mammadov still remains in prison 4 years have passed after the arrest of Ilgar Mammadov. Despite European Court of Human Rights repeated calls to Azerbaijani government to set Ilgar Mammadov free Azerbaijani authourities have refused to free Ilgar Mammadov. Prison administration allows him to meet only lawyers and family members.   His close associates cannot meet with him and have not had chance to speak him since 4 years. Ilgar Mammadov has been activist since his student years.   He was one of the first people who organized protest   before Azerbaijani delegation in Moscow after Black January. I have never had chance to meet him in person. But I have always found him inspiring and brave person who is not afraid to fight for the rights of Azerbaijani people. I believe if he had chance to be selected for presidency Mr.Ilgar would improve our country. Even though Mr. Ilgar does not have hope to be included to pardon order of Ilham Aliyev me...

10 years in prison for just spraying graffiti on a statue? On 10 th of May 2 Azerbaijani avtivists have sprayed graffiti on statue of former Azerbaijan president father of current Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev. Qiyas Ibrahimov was accused of 10 kq of heroin trafficking and were sentenced 10 years in prison. After court process mother of Qiyas Shura Ibrahimova have said “ 10 years. 10 years is nothing for Qiyas. Ilham Aliyev stole 10 years from the life of my son in order to bring his son to rule the country. There are many sons as Qiyas in Azerbaijan. Qiyas’s name will always stay in memories. I do not have much life remained. Ilham wants to destroy all of us. But he will not be able to because there are many brave men in Azerbaijan as Qiyas. Ilham Aliyev, you should afraid of them. Don’t be afraid of Qiyas anymore, you are holding him now. Journalist Gunel Safar informs that Qiyas Ibrahimov have said “ I will not defend myself because of drug prosecution. ...

26 September Referendum: What has it changed in future of Azerbaijan? Despite detention of protesting people, rallies 26 September referendum approved changes in Azerbaijan constutition. constitutional changes were supported by more than 90 percent of the voters according to official page of voting. 26 September referendum has changed the following in presidency of Ilham Aliyev Amendments include:  The extension of the presidential term in office to seven years from five, creation of the office of vice-president, and eliminating age limits for president. " Azerbaijan is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2016, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2016, Partly Free inFreedom on the Net 2015, and receives a democracy score of 6.86 on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 as the worst possible score, in Nations in Transit 2016." Freedomhouse.org mentions. I think everything is clear enough. Aliyevs will rule Azerbaijan for a longer period of time as a king.