Dialogue of Leyla Yunus with the reporter of ARD channel

In the People's University of the German city of ARD Esslingen in the framework of the Political Forum was a Discussion between the reporter  of the  television channel, Georg Restle, and  the Director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy, Leyla Yunus.

Mediator  of Suzanne Dessie,  conducting debate almost immediately after receiving the award, Yunus Theodore Hacker, lined up questions in the context  "The Woman in Azerbaijan."

Dessie: How long  have you been fighting for human rights? Where do you get strength?

Yunus: One day a woman came up to me, whose son was arrested for participating in a peaceful protest. She was confused and depressed because they do not expect that her son could be arrested. And I expected, because for a long time I live waiting. This is the norm for me in this state.

Dessie: Are not you afraid?

Yunus:  The authorities dirty tricks against the journalist Khadija Ismailova, which conducted an investigation of offshore accounts of the ruling family.

They put her in an intimate photographs online, and organized smear campaign in the media. But it is not broke her who said: "My hatred is stronger than fear."

Dessie: Will the award protect you or vice versa will create additional problems?

Yunus: The regime is unpredictable. But it would be logical to assume, first, that the prize will form a positive image of Germany as the country troubled by the  state of human rights in Azerbaijan, and secondly, the government is not just going to continue to violate human rights.

Dessie: Mr. Restle, how did you meet Yunus?

Restle: I first saw her at the protest against the violation of human rights in Baku during Eurovision. But in principle, all the ways of those in Baku, who care about human rights, lead to the Institute of Peace and Democracy. Then I realized that the regime wants to retain power  and control the wealth of the country, and such people as  Yunus, fight against it.

Dessie: Is it necessary to  hold in the authoritarian countries, activities such as the Eurovision Song Contest?  Has the contest brought to an improvement in the human rights situation?

Yunus:   Contests should be held, as it is  a punishment for them. For example, when they announced the venue for Azerbaijan, we realized that the ruling family under the pretext of improvement will evict people from their homes, take away their property, huge amounts of money will be spent on construction and improvement at the expense of the taxpayer. We have informed the organization committee of the violation of property rights and offered to cancel the tender. We have organized a protest campaign  "Sing for Democracy" to draw attention to the issue of human rights in Azerbaijan. Although the committee did not respond, but we managed to draw international attention to the human rights situation in the country.

Dessie: Was there  really an interest in the country?

Restle: Authorities were trying to maximize embellish life in Baku. The city center was specially prepared for the guests. Without actions of protest of defenders we, the journalists, would not know about the problems of human rights, refugees, minorities, women and others.

After Eurovision, it was hard to go back to the image of the country as a dynamic and rich in energy resources. There has been a revision of views on Azerbaijan.

Dessie:  Nine million people  live  in Azerbaijan. The country is very interesting from a geopolitical and energy point of view.  Does Europe support you in your struggle  to protect human rights?

Yunus: When  in 2001 Azerbaijan  joined the Council of Europe, we  had high hopes. When  Heydar Aliyev died we hoped on  democratization of the country, but the election was rigged and assistance from Europe began to decline. Suffice it to quote the head of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Samad Seyidov, who literally put an ultimatum to Europe: "You have to choose,  either Azerbaijani oil, or democracy. We are self-sufficient. "

Europe  was inconsistent. Elections declared a step forward and a step back, and the Council of Europe was unable to obtain entry to Azerbaijan of its rapporteur on political prisoners - Strasser.  There is not such a pressure on Belarus, because there is no oil.

Restle: The situation in the Council of Europe is breakthrough. For example, the German government is change  its policy towards Azerbaijan, because the wealth of the Caspian region attracts German business. Under situation, the task of critical journalists to show that the situation in the region is poor. It is also important to the German public can see these changes in the attitudes of the government.

Dessie: Will the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan  change something?

Restle: Nothing will change.  The relationship  between  Aliyev and Chancellor Meykel are good,  and she is going to invited Aliyev to  Berlin.

Dessie: What will these elections give Azerbaijan? What are the expectations?

Yunus: Ilham Aliyev was elected twice. After the second election, he held a quasi referendum and amended the constitution to allow him to be elected indefinitely. But he has a problem - the authorities realize that all sectors of society express discontent with his rule. There were demonstrations by young people, workers, businessmen,  the activity in Facebook  is  obvious. 

Therefore, power started repression of democratic forces. Almost all the country is living in a state of emergency - banned rallies, meetings of people, even in confined spaces, are permanent arrests of civil society activists. The authorities are afraid  to lose the election.

Dessie: Azerbaijan is one of the first countries to recognize the right of women to vote in 1918. What is the situation with the rights of women today? And what is the role of the Crisis Center in Baku?

Yunus: During  the Soviet period, these rights were fixed and dilated. The woman's voice was always heard and respected. But today,  more and more women appeal to our Resource Center - victims of domestic violence and trafficking. It surprises me that in a Muslim country, women are willing to go for an interview  with psychiatrist.  The police violence against women increased notably recently, which  is regarded  similar to the statistics on domestic violence against women.

Dessie: What  is the role  of women in the democratic process and conflict resolution?

Restle: Azerbaijan Yunus  is  not alone. In that country, women  have good chances. This is not Iran or Afghanistan. But if you look at the situation of women in terms of the example of Khadija Ismayilova, you will see that the government aggressively reacts to the actions of women who are affected by such niches as corruption.

Dessie:   How is  going on the fight against trafficking?

Yunus: Azerbaijan adopted a state program to combat this evil, although in the past the government accused us that raising the issue, we are slandering the country. But human trafficking continues. In 2008 the parents of two young girls who have been kidnapped  appealed to us. We had witnesses who indicated that the kidnapping involved the local police chief. But in the end, witnesses  were jailed and  the case was hushed up. Unfortunately, we live in a society where you can not protect yourself and your child.

Dess: What kind of support can get Yunus?

Yunus: When we lived in the Soviet Union, we were fighting against the illegal regime and felt the support from the West. I think that if today we  work illegally,  I'm afraid there will not be any help. Recently, the German funds began to leave Azerbaijan for  Georgia.  It is necessary to support civil society in Azerbaijan. If it is not, then there is no one to fight for democracy and the country will fall into total darkness.

Restle: European politicians need to know that  democracy can not be a little bit. Either it is or not. It's like being a little pregnant. And we need to talk about the situation in Belarus, Azerbaijan.--0--