One of the troubles of corruption: the absence of control

Video footage of the beating of a 7-year-old child by his coach during a workout in the gym of school No. 19 in the village of Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev in Sumgait caused public anger and caused widespread discussions.

The Sumgayit City Court chose an extreme measure of restraint arrest for a period of 4 months with regard to Mehman Khalilov, who on April 29 in the gym of school No. 19 in the village of Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev in Sumgayit caused serious bodily injuries to 7-year-old Farid Bakarov and caused his death. The investigation of the case initiated under  the Article 126.3 of the Criminal Code (Intentional infliction of serious harm to health - resulting in the death of the victim by negligence) is ongoing.

Why did the existence of the problem become known after the death of the child and the distribution of video frames? Why is  not there any control? Why do state structures fail to fulfill their duties in a timely manner, while inaction is the cause of such tragedies? Is the Ministry of Science and Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the State Committee on Family, Women and Children's Issues responsible for what happened? How are the activities of sports clubs regulated in developed countries?

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Question: Is only the coach responsible for the death of a 7-year-old child in training? Does the school administration, which created the conditions for this tragedy, the Ministry of Science and Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the State Committee on Family, Women, and Children bear any responsibility?

Answer: These video frames are depressing. In such cases, assigning responsibility to one person is equivalent to putting the incident into oblivion. And this is the root of evil. Normal people, normal society should learn at least from their own mistakes. Although it is much better to learn from the experience of others.

This incident revealed the gaps existing in the country in the field of training management in martial arts. Who, where, whom and how can teach combat sports in Azerbaijan? Is it so? Should it happen randomly, uncontrollably?

At the very least, these questions should be asked and discussed. And this is not a problem of one person, one family – this is a problem of society. Starting from those who want to send their child to such martial arts sections, to those who experience crushing skills, who have mastered martial arts.

Yes, the management system needs to be adjusted so that both children and adults are protected from such risks. If the Ministry of Education trains such fighters in schools, then it is obliged to anticipate and prevent risks.

In fact, doesn't it seem strange? Where is education and where are violent types of struggle? Boxing, sambo, karate, kicks, kickboxing?

Question: Many schools in Baku and Sumgait, as well as schools and Olympic sports complexes in the regions have sections on these sports. Who should control them, who certifies them? Is it possible to create conditions for training without checking the psychological state of the coaches, their skills, and skills of working with children?

Answer: There should be specialized schools for young athletes. The task of the Ministry of Science and Education is to provide high-quality general education, not training in martial arts sports.

If it is normal to conduct physical education lessons, to attract young people to sports, physical culture, this will be enough. You can even do yoga. But sports containing violence, martial arts are unnecessary for the education system.

Those who want to practice martial arts can go to clubs. It also seems strange that schools rent out their sports grounds to outsiders. This also creates problems for the school security service. This opens up opportunities for outsiders to enter the school building.

The process of learning martial arts and the behavior of people trained in it carry some risks. Let us compare this, for example, with the sale of hunting weapons. Hunting weapons are a source of risk both for those who buy them and for their loved ones. In addition, it can be used for poaching and even for committing more serious crimes. In this regard, the sale of hunting weapons requires strict regulation and control.

A person with combat skills is akin to a person who has a firearm with him and can always use them. Yesterday we saw how a boxer attacked a government official and broke his jaw.

Therefore, those who teach these sports must have the necessary state diploma or certificate. Should they know the anatomical and physiological characteristics of children and adolescents? Absolutely! Otherwise, he can, by giving them excessive physical activity, harm their health.

If a person works with children, then he must have pedagogical knowledge. Otherwise, he will not be able to establish effective communication with children, youth, psychological stress will arise. Violent sports always encourage violence when there are no other means.

It is natural for a coach to know the kind of sport he teaches. Otherwise, what will he teach?

Those wishing to become coaches are taught for several months the risks and ways to eliminate them, as well as the ethics of behavior of persons with martial arts skills, about cases when the use of force is permissible, some ideas about responsibility, so that the coach later instructs his students this. Thus, there will be more trust in trainers who have received education and know the administrative, legal, ethical, and physiological consequences of their actions. And the quality of the services they provide, too. At least you will know that there will be no fatal consequences.

This is the duty of the State. Regulation of such services so that they are risk-free, safe and of high quality.

Also, along with certification, the activities of such trainers should be monitored. Continuously. This control may not be strict, but it must be effective.

Question: How are these issues resolved in your country of residence or in Europe? If any athlete or a person of another profession wants to create an amateur activity circle there, will the state authorities create the appropriate conditions?

Answer: In European countries, for example, in France, where I live, there is, of course, administrative regulation. In Europe, especially in the developed countries of Western Europe, almost every step is orderly. From the Azerbaijani point of view, it is extremely tough. Every professional must have a state-recognized certificate or diploma. A citizen should be sure that the person he trusts with hair coloring has the necessary knowledge. He cannot check it himself. So, the government should do it. Those who do not have a certificate cannot work. Should anyone who dyes their hair have knowledge of the chemicals they work with, instructions for their use, their effects on hair and skin, as well as the consequences? Undoubtedly.

Let us take car repairs. The car is a source of danger. If the mechanic who repairs it does not have the necessary knowledge, it can pose a threat not only to your car, but also to you and others. You cannot check if employees have a diploma every time you enter the garage. Someone has to do it for you. Naturally, these are public institutions.

This is how most areas with a greater or lesser degree of risk are regulated.

In Azerbaijan, if you decide to build a house on your private land, then you coordinate the issue only from an architectural point of view. If the building is multi-storey, then the Ministry of Emergency Situations is also considering this issue. In France, in all cases, all issues related to home security are controlled by an engineer. That is, independent engineers whom the government trusts and certifies, check and give feedback, and that is it. After all, even a small hut, if it is not built properly, can collapse and harm the people living in it.

The same goes for martial arts training. In France, such coaches are required to obtain the appropriate education, knowledge, and diploma. Moreover, anyone starting a coaching career must submit the necessary documents to the Department of Sports and Youth of the local prefecture. From this moment control begins. Changes (for example, the presence of a gym for training or a diploma, or a court order prohibiting working as a coach, etc.) are reported to the prefecture. If necessary, the prefect also supervises.

French legislation prohibits certain categories of persons from training martial arts in general. Persons who have committed torture, sexual harassment, engaged in drug trafficking, drug abuse, endangering others, committed dangerous acts against children, engaged in pimping and some other crimes cannot be combat sports coaches. Moreover, for violating laws concerning the protection of children, some persons are deprived of the right to teach children such sports.

Question: What steps should be taken to optimally address these issues in Azerbaijan? Now most parents who want their child to play sports will avoid it. And this will prevent Azerbaijan from achieving success in sports in the future. What steps should the government take so that people are not afraid to enroll their children in sports clubs and trust those who organize them?

Answer: Obviously, these are problems that the Ministry of Youth and Sports should take care of directly. In Azerbaijan, issues such as certification, diplomas, exams, instructions, regulation, control cause a negative reaction and irritation. This is one of the troubles caused by corruption. Everyone is afraid of regulation, avoids bureaucracy, and hates control. But there are many issues, without solving which, public services, reliability, security will be at an extremely low level, and risks will not be reduced.