Ali Kerimli: Ilham Aliyev publicly showed intolerance to criticism

"Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the PACE session expresses only regret, because the President has demonstrated the European audience his  intolerance of criticism," said PFPA leader Ali Kerimli in an interview  with "ObektivTV."

"The fact that corruption prospers in Azerbaijan, that there are 130 political prisoners, and elections are rigged  is  known worldwide. But when Ilham Aliyev was asked questions about these topics, he lost his temper.

Over 10 years in power, he  has never participated in any  political controversy. He only acted monologues, never   had dialogue, never responded to questions from reporters,  and did not  had a  roundtable with the opposition.

Therefore,  Aliyev, who had never heard criticism, heard the bitter truth, lost his temper, behaved aggressively, demonstrating  his  level and attitude to criticism," continued Kerimli.

PACE members realized that if this man so sharply reacts to criticism of European parliamentarians, how he behaves with his opponents in his own country?

"Aliyev's statements on ensuring the country's freedom of speech and assembly, the absence of political prisoners is an outright lie," said Kerimli. Kerimli reminded the final conclusion of the monitoring mission of the OSCE ODIHR of  340 observers from 41 countries  to  participate in the presidential election in 2013. Observers from the OSCE ODIHR stated that on  58% precincts vote count was on the poor or very poor levels.

With regard to  Aliyev’s statements that   there are not arrested journalists in the country,  Kerimli said that  media representatives have always been  in custody in Azerbaijan, and nothing has changed today. "Independent media’s number can now be counted on one hand.

If  there is  freedom of speech in the country,  then why broadcast on FM radio frequencies  is  banned for "Freedom", "Voice of America" ​​and the BBC radio stations? Why does  the leading newspaper of the country, "Azadlig",  barely survive? This newspaper  is the only printed edition in Azerbaijan that  criticizes President Ilham Aliyev and top authorities close to him. The government is doing everything to close the newspaper," said Kerimli.

Referring to the situation of the political opposition, Kerimli reminded that  over the period of Aliyevs’ sty I office,  PPFA  was seven times deprived of their office. Kerimli himself has been deprived of his foreign  passport for eight years.

PPFA  cannot  hold meetings and events,  and meeting with party members. Police invades meetings in private homes of the party activists. "After all this, to state that provided political rights and freedoms  have been provided in Azerbaijan,  is a frank lie before the world community,"  said Kerimli. Asking the question what is the way out Kerimli said that international organizations should continue criticism without yielding to blackmail  of the Azerbaijani government."

Baku uses energy factor, demanding from the West  to close eyes on the human rights violations. However, in reality,  oil and gas cooperation is  necessary  more for Azerbaijan, and the West should not succumb to pressure.

The second factor is a threat of  getting closer to Russia, if the West will not tolerate the policy of the Azerbaijani authorities. However, Azerbaijan is strongly tied economically to the West, and the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan and Belarus  have only 4% of Azerbaijan's exports and 18% of imports. Finally, there is the Karabakh conflict, which  cannot be solved without the Wes, and under the patronage of Russia  the problem cannot find its objective settlement. Therefore, international organizations should not be afraid of tough rhetoric of the Azerbaijani authorities and retreat.

Certainly, the  accession democracy is the affair of the Azerbaijani people, but the international community must be principled  to call white-white, black – black, and demand  from the  authorities  the fulfillment of their international organizations, including 59  European Convention, said Kerimli.-03B06-