What Did the Incident in Imishli Reveal? – Asif Yusifli on "The Difficult Question"

A tragic accident occurred in Imishli, resulting in the deaths of two people and severe injuries to two minors. Following the incident, police reportedly pursued and pressured individuals who shared information about protests in the area on social media.

Independent politician Asif Yusifli discussed the situation on the program "Difficult Question."  According to him, the event caused widespread public outcry due to serious underlying issues, including the country's dire socio-economic conditions and the misconduct of officials and police.

Yusifli highlighted that living standards in regional centers are lower not only compared to large cities but even to rural areas. Rural populations primarily survive on funds sent by breadwinners working in Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. Additionally, rural residents have access to land, livestock, and other means to scrape by. In regional centers, however, there is neither land for agricultural activities like in villages nor major companies like in urban areas.

The expert also pointed out that even before this tragic event, public anger was mainly directed at the arbitrariness of State Traffic Police (STP) officers and the exorbitant fines imposed on motorists for any reason. This, he said, was what triggered the protest action by Imishli residents.

In Yusifli's view, if the traffic accident had been caused by a civilian, the public reaction, despite the tragic outcome, would have been different.

"The anger of Imishli residents was specifically fueled by the fact that the perpetrator of the accident was an STP officer. People are fed up with their actions. Additionally, dissatisfaction with the district's Executive Authority and the police was evident. It is no coincidence that protesters demanded their resignation," he noted.

Yusifli argued that the country's challenging socio-economic situation, unchecked official misconduct, and the habitual use of force to resolve problems are increasingly aggravating citizens' frustration and discontent.