Ilgar Mammadov: REAL Alternative to Power

Baku / 04.09.18 / Turan: "The first reason for my arrest was to make me unable to participate in the presidential elections of 2013, and to remove me from politics." This was stated by the leader of REAL Party Ilgar Mammadov on September 4 at his first press conference after his release from prison.

The political motivation for the persecution was also confirmed by the European Court of Human Rights, which found a violation of Article 18 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Precisely because of the failure to implement this decision of the ECHR, the Council of Europe launched a special procedure under Article 46 of the Convention against Azerbaijan, which was the first time in the history of the Council of Europe.

Mammadov noted the special merits of his lawyer Fuad Agayev who was in charge of the ECHR. He also thanked other lawyers Khalid Bagirov, Javad Javadov, and Shahla Humbatova, who selflessly defended him, exposing themselves to risks. For example, Bagirov was even expelled from the Bar Association.

Mammadov said that he will seek full justification, as well as punishment for all 19 judges involved in illegal decisions against him.

Mammadov said he will continue the political struggle and will participate with the REAL party in the parliamentary and presidential elections.

REAL is positioning itself as a real alternative to the authorities and is ready to take responsibility for running the country, he said.

Touching on the economic situation in the country over the past five years, he pointed out that in many respects - economic growth, investment volume, growth of external debt, etc. Azerbaijan is inferior to the neighboring Armenia and Georgia.

It was during this period that the authorities conducted mass repressions in order to silence their critics. However, the pursuit of critical votes did not lead to an improvement in the life of the population.

"Until freedom and respect for alternative opinions are ensured, there will be no progress. Arrests of journalists and activists did not lead to prosperity or higher living standards," Mammadov said.

He called untenable the arguments of the authorities that the economic indicators had deteriorated due to a drop in oil prices in the world. "The government was not ready for the processes in the world and mistakenly built the entire strategy at high oil prices," Mammadov said.

He criticized the authorities for bringing the external debt to $ 10 billion, indicating that these funds were spent on dubious projects. Mammadov sees the way out of the situation in economic and political reforms, creating a competitive environment, holding free elections, and ensuring the independence of the courts.

To achieve changes in the country much will depend on the activity and initiative of citizens, Mammadov said.

Touching upon the topic of holding rallies of protest, Mammadov said he did not see the point. "Ilham Aliyev uses these rallies and says that we have democracy," Mammadov said and added that at the right time an action will be held that "will benefit the people and harm the regime." As an example of such an action he called the procession on May 28 in the center of Baku, when supporters of republican values ​​flooded the center of the capital. -06D--