Authorities and off-system opposition

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-What is behind Ali Ahmedov"s calls to mobolization against the opposition?

- It should be noted that the Ahmedov"s calls are of a matter of common nature. We see no specific reasons, facts or names that force him make such a statement. The point is about profound concern of Ahmedov only.

In fact, we are regularly faced with tough, humiliating and abusive rhetoric against the opposition either by Ali Ahmedov or other representatives of the ruling "Yeni Azerbaijan" Party or the authorities. Our society is not surprised at the rhetoric of this sort. It is no mere coincidence that main opposition forces of the country have never regarded the ruling party as their serious opponent. In spite of the fact that the ruling party has scores of members, it is not, nevertheless, ready for open political competition with the opposition. They decline from open debates not only with main opposition parties but even from weak "opposition" parties. In fact, today it is law- enforcement bodies that are actually involved in dealing with the opposition: the ruling party is not ready to openly compete with the opposition. In turn, this factor accounts for pressures on the authorities from society.

It must be acknowledged that many areas of the country are passing through profound crisis, including economic, political, humanitarian and legal environment. The election institution has completely collapsed; society is faced with growing discrimination, social differentiation, poverty and administrative violence; growth of injustice is typical for court instances. Lower and medium strata of the population are tired of absolute disgrace; tensions between the state and the citizen are growing.

It is important to note that administrative and propaganda resources of the authorities are unable to change the course of political processes. Besides, political reanimation in neighboring countries has had its effect on minds in Azerbaijan. The probability remains that the head of the state subjects high-ranking functionaries of the ruling party to acute criticism for their inactivity; inability to react to of the criticism of the authorities. Beyond any doubt, the chairman of the ruling party is anxious that no influence of the political party consisting of hundreds of thousands members is felt in society. Perhaps, the head of the state asks a question why should we contact with the opposition in the language of police and other law-enforcement bodies? What are duties of the ruling party then? The role of factors mentioned above is, perhaps, felt in the Ahmedov"s calls.

It has to be kept in mind that the head of the state has repeatedly shown his mistrust to the ruling party. It is no mere coincidence that Novruz Mamedov has been appointed a Prime Minister behind the back of the deputy chairman of the ruling party, as well as other high-ranking party members. Suffice it to note for many years Novruz Mamedov has been a mid-level functionary subordinated to Ali Ahmedov directly. He is well aware of criteria the head of the state is guided by. So, Aliyev knows what can be expected from active members and young activists of his party. The ruling party is a structure where selflessness risks create problems to the inspirer proper.

- Ali Ahmedov lays an emphasis on the opposition abroad. However, in fact the opposition inside Azerbaijan suffers more from activities of persons abroad pretending to represent the opposition. Are persons of this sort praiseworthy? Why are these persons linked to the opposition?

-It"d be wrong to assess the opposition acting abroad unambiguously. Note that virtual propaganda of political education abroad matters most for the country. One cannot deny the role of these factors in society"s intensification.

On the other hand, there is an utterly injurious activity abroad. Attempts are made to affect politically immature persons and thus obstruct systematic activity of the opposition. Oppositionists are suppressed in the country, so any activity abroad seems to be more attractive. The authorities realize that activities of the main opposition in the country will be damaged. However, the authorities are not concerned about intensification of some oppositional forces abroad. It is obvious that these forces cannot enjoy serious political support in the country. In fact, the political forces harshly criticized by Ali Ahmedov are in position to stage mass actions of protest in the country. In reality, Ali Ahmedov addresses his call about unification and mobilization of national forces to pwer-holding structures protecting interests of the ruling party. An attempt is made to associate activities of the main opposition of the country with radical activities of certain persons from abroad and thus discredit the opposition in the eyes of the public.

-Ali Ahmedov insists that the opposition has neither program nor strategy. Is he right? Is there any strategy or program?

-The opposition only is capable of answering this political allegation. We cannot say anything specific about the program or strategy of the opposition. If approached objectively, independent analysts realize that the opposition is existent politically and has an impact on public opinion; it seriously disturbs the authorities and has a sound position in society.

Also, account has to be taken of the fact that the expanse for political activity in the country is essentially narrowed by the authorities that are not fastidious in resorting to violent methods. All authoritative world reports describe our country as non-free country; elections are totally falsified; no right to freedom of assemblies is ensured; the police forcibly interfere with opposition meetings even at small halls. Allowing for the fact that there are above 100 political prisoners in the country, the opposition is in no position to plan directions of its policy in principle. If the state declines from its constitutional obligations before political parties and purposefully destroys political pluralism, what could the authorities expect from the opposition? The authorities do not guarantee law-stipulated rights of the opposition, decline from creating conditions for social and political activity of the opposition, just complain of the opposition regularly. It is rather difficult to understand the situation on the basis of common logic. If the opposition and its leaders enjoy no social support, why do the authorities resort to total prohibitions and pressures? It transpires that in the recent years the opposition" presence has been apparent everywhere.

-Thee is an opinion that addressee of Ahmedov"s attacks is not a traditional opposition but a new opposition in the ranks of the authorities proper. Is it correct?

- To my thinking, allegations of this sort are not serious. Ali Ahmedov is not a politician authoritative enough to put on the agenda an intra-power item. Besides, the ruling party is in no position to interfere with intra-power processes.

-Why do the power and the opposition treat each other hostilely? Why cannot they run dialogue, discussions, and debates normally as is in other countries?

-The main reason is that the current authorities have arisen from no democratic elections. This circumstance plays a certain role in yet-unshaped political traditions and cultures but decisive one. The first stage to establish communication between the parties is elections. Non-free country worldwide has no practice of contacts between the power and the opposition in the form of dialogue, discussions and debates.

It should be added that the antidemocratic power is governed by the principle: the power is owned by me, and I"ll retain this power at any price. All those opposing me are enemies, I"m authorized to arrest, beat, crush them. It is natural that opposition"s attitude against the power is identical. In so doing, the opposition has no effective lever to oppose the power, so the power disrespects it. Should the society join political processes actively, the system of political relations would change radically.

- What needs to be done for functioning a normal and strong opposition in the country?

- It is elector"s responsibility to determine both power and opposition in democratic countries. However, there is no classified opposition in the classical sense of word in our country.

It should be remembered that a discontent and protesting part of population in antidemocratic countries sympathizes with an oppositional political force. At present, there is very strong off-system opposition in our country. It may be pacified through the use of administrative levers only. Yet, the current situation cannot last long and sooner or later the situation is sure to change. As activity of social networks grows, the political activity will grow as well. At present, the country is on the threshold of changes.