Mr. Aliyev goes to Washington

 
 
In some countries around the world sadly freedom and its many forms are considered a crime. Azerbaijan is among these countries. Here, freedom to speak your mind, to think, to criticize and speak up is not only a crime but a grave crime, and is often disguised under dubious criminal acts such as hooliganism, drug possession, tax evasion, illegal entrepreneurship or embezzlement. In Azerbaijan, freedom is not tolerated and its advocates less so. This is why Azerbaijan’s jails, for some time now, are home to some of the country’s brightest men and women. Or at least this was the case up until March 17, 2016.
 
Seasonal greetings from President Aliyev
 
The news rocked Azerbaijan’s independent civil society or whatever is left of it like a storm. At a time when many have given up hopes on any good news from Baku, Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev signed an amnesty on March 17, pardoning 148 prisoners, among them 14 political prisoners.
 
The list of politically motivated arrests in Azerbaijan shortened, but not by much. The most recent list included 98 political prisoners. While the regime in Azerbaijan profusely continues to deny there are any political prisoners, international community thinks otherwise. Still many in the West applauded Aliyev’s decision.
 
Welcoming the release of political prisoners were European Parliament’s (EP) VP for Human Rights and Democracy Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (ALDE, DE), the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the EU Commission Federica Mogherini, whose recent visit to Azerbaijan was heavily criticized by international rights watchdogs and activists for being too soft on the government of Azerbaijan. Pedro Agramunt, President of the Council of Europe of Parliamentary Assembly too praised Azerbaijani authorities.
 
None of these officials however, remembered to add that neither the14 activists, who were released, nor the remaining prisoners belonged to jails of Azerbaijan to begin with. The sole exception was Isabel Santos, the Chairperson of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions. Santos in an earlier statement that was issued shortly after the release of veteran rights activist Leyla Yunus and her husband Arif Yunus in December of 2015, had said, “the international community remained convinced that she [Leyla Yunus] did not deserve to spend a single day behind bars and was punished for daring to call on the Azerbaijani government to live up to its commitments”.
 
The applause from international stakeholders is not surprising but its impact in Azerbaijan cannot be underestimated. Each such gesture gives even more ground for the regime in Azerbaijan to continue muzzling voices unabated, knowing that it will receive praise in the aftermath of the release anyway.
 
Who made the cut?
 
The March 17 amnesty list includes youth activists Rashadat Akhundov, Mammad Azizov, Rashad Hasnov; journalists Parviz Hashimli, Hilal Mammadov, Tofig Yagublu; blogger Omar Mammadov; rights activist Rasul Jafarov; human rights defender Taleh Khasmammadov; civil society activist Anar Mammadli; and others. 10 out of 14 were included in Amnesty International’s “prisoners of conscience” list.
 
Also on March 17, court in Baku ordered conditional release of veteran journalist Rauf Mirkadirov, who prior to his arrest lived in Ankara, from where he reported for Azerbaijan-based newspaper Ayna/Zerkalo was extradited and then charged with espionage when brought to Azerbaijan. Mirkadirov was sentenced to six years. On March 17, his sentence was replaced with five years suspended sentence.
 
One more concession
 
In another surprising move, on March 28, just two days ahead of President Aliyev’s visit to Washington DC for the Nuclear Summit, court in Baku released prominent Human Rights Lawyer Intigam Aliyev on probation, changing his sentence to five years suspended sentence. Aliyev like many others among the list of pardoned individuals was charged with tax evasion, abuse of power, and illegal entrepreneurship.
 
Although most of the world and its key decision makers continue to watch in silence, there were those who stood up for Azerbaijan’s freedom fighters. And the bigger question remains: for just how much longer, President Aliyev is going to get away with arrests and releases using his most favorite game of all — the revolving door policy? His ruthless attitude towards dissent took away years from the lives of those unjustly jailed, caused tremendous pain to their loved ones and whittled away any hopes for democracy in Azerbaijan. It also created an army of apologists whose sole purpose is to defend President Aliyev and attack anyone who thinks otherwise. And yet Ilham Aliyev, the man who took over the presidential seat from his father in contested elections, receives abundant praise from the world for his “good will intentions.”
 
On March 31st President Aliyev will arrive to Washington DC to attend the Nuclear Security Summit. It is clear that the release of political prisoners was Aliyev’s way to bring down the level of criticism he might face on this trip. Meanwhile, prominent names such as award winning investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, political activist Ilgar Mammadov, journalists Nijat Aliyev, Seymur Hezi and many others remain in Aliyev’s dungeons.
 
Perhaps a strong sign from the President Obama – similar to his refusal to attend with President Tayyip Erdoğan the opening ceremony of a mosque in Maryland during the latter’s visit this week — could send Ilham Aliyev a signal that America still cares about democracy and human rights. Or will the president of Azerbaijan go back home thinking he has conquered the hearts and minds only to unleash more terror and get more praise when he decides to stop?
 
 

Tags: aliyev, arzu geybulla, azerbaijan