Democracy For Azerbaijan

Rauf Mirgadirov is a journalist whom Turkey forcibly returned to Azerbqaijan without giving him permission to access a lawyer.   Azerbaijan had detained him as soon as he reached Baku International Airport on april 19, 2014.Court kept him for 3 monthes in pretrial custody. Mr Rauf has lived in Turkey with his family since August 2010 and since then he has been Ankara based correspondent for independent Azerbaijan newspaper Ayna and Zerkalo.   He has left Azerbaijan fearing threats and pressure as a result of his critical reporting. Mirgadirov was focusing mainly on key human right issues in Azerbaijan and Turkey. Tiral process: Mirgadirov has been found guilty of spying and sentenced to six years in prison.

Saday Shakarli is a poet who has published several books with the support of Ministry of Taxes. His last book was “ Qurd ureyi” ( the heart of Wolf). In the book he has mentioned about critical characters of former Azerbaijan president Heydar Aliyev and president now: Ilham Aliyev. The arrest took place after he published his book. Saday Shakarli was arrested based on a complaint filed by Asif Jahangirov ( advisor to Minister of Taxes).   Asif Jahangirov mentioned that Saday wanted 10.000 AZN from him and has threatened him by publishing discrediting reports on media. Only evidence against the poet had been the testimony of the advisor to Minister of Taxes.   Police have done investigating in his house and have taken his books and laptop. Poet think that his arrest is political order and has started hunger strike in prison.

Leyla is an Azerbaijan human rights activist as well a director of Institute of Peace and Democracy Institute. She is known for helping citizens to fight for their rights. In July 2014 the Azerbaijani authorities jailed Yunus under allegations of spying for Armenia. She had been sentenced to 8.5 years in jail on August 2015. Yesterday she was released due to her deteriorating health. Some information about Leyla Yunus’s career -In 1990 Leyla with Zardush Alizadeh formed Social Democratic Party with the aim of establishing moderate political voice. -During hostilities in the Karabakh conflict in 1992 She served as vice minister of Defence and Chief of Information Analytical Centre of Ministry of Defence. -In 1995 she became a director on Institute of Peace and Democracy. -In 2014 Leyla has led a working group on compiling a list of political prisoners in Azerbaijan. She has been nominated for Human Rights Tulip Award In October 2014 Leyla was awarded with ...

Parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan November 1 st was the day of parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. Of course it is impossible to expect transparent elections of Azerbaijan Government. On number 118 elections center observer Namig Jafarli wanted to protest against fraud but he was dismissed from elections as observer. Namil Jafarli has mentioned that few people came to polling station   and has put hundreds of election bulletins to election boxes.   Mehdibay Safarov from polling station #78 Lerik city. He was a candidate to the polling station #78. He has immediately telegrammed to Azerbaijan Republic’s president Ilham Aliyev.   He has mentioned that representatives of village executive power, chairmen of polling stations, school directors and director of region education department are threatening people by dismissing them from work if they vote for Mehdibay Safarov # 79 Imishli Elections Poll. The candidate of New Azerbaijan Party had been caught...

In Soviet times writers and poets were the main focus of Soviet government. Many of Azerbaijani writers were victims of repression. Today the same thing is happening again but the difference is that our poet is arrested by our own government.   Tofig Xasay oglu Hasanli got arrested on 12 October. He was one of the critics of the government. He wrote poems to express his criticism.   He was posting his videos on youtube. He was posting his poems under the name of “ Heydername” collection. He has been accused of selling of narcotics and illegal purchase of it. Hasanli has first appeared on Qulp TV show broadcasted on ANS TV. Hasanli has lived in Lankaran with his mother Zarifa.

Mammad Ibrahim is an Advisor to the chairman of Azerbaijan Popular Front party . He has graduated from Azerbaijan Finance-Economic College. He has been member of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party since 1989. Mammad Ibrahim has been organizer of most rallies of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party. Mammad Ibrahimhas been warned to stop many times. He has been accused of hooliganism and arrested on September 30, 2015. On 28 September Mikayil Guliyev filed a complaint of Mammad Ibrahim. Mikayil Guliyev had left Azerbaijan popular front party in February 2015. 2 people   Guliyev Mikayil and Valiyev Oruj claimed that they were aslo victims of Mammad Ibrahim’s hooliganism. They testified that they have been hurt when they were trying to separate Mammad Ibrahim and Mikayil Guliyev. In the hearing Mikayil Guliyev mentioned that he do not know these two victims either.

Karabakh war disabled veteran Asif Yusifli is a Karabakh was disabled veteran.  He is also member of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party. It was his court process today and He was arrested for 7.5 years in prison. He has 2 children. He was fighting to protect the rights of Karabakh war veterans. He was writing a blog and sharing statuses on facebook and twitter. Asif Yusifli mentions on his last speech. “ On 37 th years ot was almost forbidden to use the word “Justice”. If someone was pronouncing this word they were killed by Stalin and Yejov. But this world belonged to no one, neither to Stalin nor Prophet Solomon. Late or early we will build the fair society. Asif Yusifli is accused of fraud and falsification of documents.

Azerbaijan held European Games from June 12-28   for the first time.   According to BBC Azerbaijan has spent 5 milliard Dollars in these games. Government has not allowed some foreign media and press workers and employees of human rights organization’s workers to Azerbaijan. Many work places have shut down in Azerbaijan. People are suffering after the increase in costs. Azerbaijan has spent just one billion to bring 6000 athletes from 50 countries to Baku. Sport Minister Azad Rahimov has mentioned in his speech that “We always say sports should mean peace and should bring people” where on the other hand Azerbaijan government do not allow human rights group into the country. Radio France International and the United States Kingdom ’s Guardian newspaper reported that their staff has been blocked from entering the country at last minute

On may 19 , 15 people lost their life on residence building fire which happened today.   The residence building is located in Azadliq Avenue in Banagadi Region. 5 of the people who died were children more than 60 people have got injured. Most of the dead were killed by smoke inside the building. Firemen could put out the fire after 3 hours. The reason of fire is inflammable fecade material which government had put them on buildings to make it look more beautiful before Euorpean games. A similar fire had happened in Baku on April 10 2015. At that time no one got injured. But government still had not removed the low quality inflammable materials. Who will return the people who lost their life to their families? Who will answer to these deaths? I wish patience to all the families…

On april 5 th National Council has held rally in “ M əhsul ” stadium in Baku. According to information on media the purpose of rally was to protest against the cost increase. Different representative parties on National Council have participated in Rally. Chairman of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Ali Karimli, chariman of National Council Jamil Hasanli, members of National Council Eldaniz Guliyev, Gultakin Hajibayli and Nuraddin Mammadli have given speeches in rally. According to Musavat newspaper there were no any incidents in rally.

Protesti   against increase of costs On april 5 th National Council has held rally in “ M əhsul ” stadium in Baku. According to information on media the purpose of rally was to protest against the cost increase. Different representative parties on National Council have participated in Rally. Chairman of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Ali Karimli, chariman of National Council Jamil Hasanli, members of National Council Eldaniz Guliyev, Gultakin Hajibayli and Nuraddin Mammadli have given speeches in rally. According to Musavat newspaper there were no any incidents in rally.