Rustam Ibrahimbayov: Things could have been different

Prominent screenwriter and director,  honorable chairman of the National Council of Democratic Forces(NCDF) of Azerbaijan, Rustam Ibrahimbayov, is now 76 years old. So it turns out, that in recent years, every time on the eve of  his birthday this “Oskar-winner” non-politician  have to settle  new wave of social and political subjects. Thus, Ibrahimbayov proclaimed the idea of creation the National Council of Democratic Forces of Azerbaijan in January 2013. Most recently, his authoritative name was mentioned in the debate over the fate of the Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations in Russia, which as both homelands of Azerbaijanis live this period. Therefore, an interview of "Turan" with the master is not about the movie.

Correspondent: Rustam muallim, some media published about intensification  of your political activities in the framework of the so-called Union of Billionaires, based on  the fact that you you've seen in a Moscow restaurant  together  with Ramazan Abdulatipov and Abbas Abbasov. Is it true?

Rustam Ibrahimbayov: On 2 February, in the theater "Modern" was a presentation of the book by known theatrologist Natalia Staroselskaya dedicated to the Baku "Ibrus" theater. The hall was full, well-known representatives of Russian art and culture paid tribute to the theater, and he is a great actor. But I deliberately do not name  the Moscow celebrities gathered on this pleasant evening for me, and, of course, I will not mention  those two or three Azerbaijanis who dared to enter the "Modern" theater.

Corr. Why?

R.I. Yes, because Abbas Abbasov came to  congratulate me the theater, and author of the book. That's enough to spread through media working for them another silly-false  thoughts  of the Azerbaijani special services  about  another meeting of the conspirators.

Yes, I was in a restaurant with Ramazan Abdulatipov. I can name many other famous figures of different nationalities and the widest range of professions in the company that I was in a different restaurants in Moscow. So what? Recent years, with the advent of the Internet, I'm rarely in libraries. And I often go to restaurants, although it is bad for  health.

With Ramazan Abdulatipov we recently wrote a script about Rasul Gamzatov and my nephew Murad took on the script for the film, which is already seen thousands of spectators, but the main premiere is yet to come. Aras Agalarov I know from his childhood, and he is not to blame. Alekperov, Telman Ismailov, Iskender Khalilov met several times in his life, including at the founding meeting of the Union of Azerbaijani Organizations of Russia (ECCS), with a light hand surnamed special services of Azerbaijan Union of billionaires. The desire to unite Abbas Abbasov, Azerbaijani diaspora organizations in Russia following the example of other diaspora peoples of the former Soviet Union did not materialize, and we are no longer met. But how many fables composed and continued to write about this one single meeting! Apparently, the Azerbaijani authorities are afraid of more or less independent diaspora organizations in Russia.

Corr. Rustam muallim, what is happening in Azerbaijani cultural autonomy (AzerRos)? You, as a member of the Council of Elders of this organization, must be aware of the arising problems there.

R.I.  There are problems in Azerros, and they arose from the desire of some forces from Azerbaijan to dismiss from his post a head of the organization Abbas Abbasov. But the great majority of major regional organizations support Abbasov, understanding that a man with his authority and capabilities in Russia can be of great benefit to our cultural autonomy. I am, by the way, a member of the Presidium and other influential organization - the All-Russian Congress of Azerbaijanis, and was one of its founders. But in recent years I do not attend meetings of All-Russian Congress of Azerbaijanis , so that its leadership is  not accused of attempting a coup d'etat in Azerbaijan.

I'm tired of talking about the fact that I am a man, far from the real politics. Only once I attempted to unite a disparate Azerbaijani democratic opposition before the last presidential election. I managed it. But opposition leaders demanded that I agreed to become their single candidate in the upcoming presidential election. I had to go for it, otherwise, the coalition collapsed, but immediately declared the necessity of another candidate. As a result, a majority supported our remarkable historian Jamil Hasanli, who, incidentally, had a brilliant pre-election  campaign. It was my  only direct involvement in politics.

Yes, I consider it my civic and the writer duty not to agree with the massive suppression of the rights of Azerbaijanis and many others, what is happening in the country, but this is not politics, and in any other, not even the democratic state, it would be accepted normally. However, the regime established in the Azerbaijan, declares anyone who does not praise it, its enemies, and accuses of organizing a coup. It seems like a mania, because the number of political victims in Azerbaijan grows day by day. The authorities do not understand that the only activity of civil society can save it from the growing danger of popular revolt.

Corr. Are not you  tired of everything that is happening around you?

R.I. Tired is not a right word. It is disgusting. Everything  could it be otherwise. And not only in Azerbaijan. Greed of those who are in power and their criminal immorality, concealed by  demagogic and patriotic rhetoric, depriving millions of people of opportunity to live, without feeling the social and civil humiliation.

Corr. Rustam muallim, February 5 you turn 76 years old. And we would like to wish you  traditionally many years, and may all your wishes and plans come true  with the same precision and inevitability, as birthdays. Good luck to you!—0--