Forum of Intellectuals: Country on the Verge of a Systemic Crisis

The Advisory Majlis (Council) of the Forum of Azerbaijani Intelligentsia made a statement on the political situation in the country. The Forum described the videotape showing how the country's "parliament" is really formed, as well as the vague and half-hearted attitude of authorities to this criminal fact, as an indicator of political, legal and moral crisis within the state system.

The statement also refers to the inactivity of law enforcement agencies, despite the availability of information about the criminal fact.

The authorities' refusal to discuss the issue, which calls into question the legitimacy of the Parliament, is evidence that constitutional norms are fiction.

A number of recent pieces of evidence of corruption in the highest echelons of power, as well as misappropriation of natural resources, are indicators of total criminalization within the country. All this is leading the country to a systemic crisis.

The only way to salvation is fundamental political, legal and socio-economic reforms.

As the authors claim, the absence of political will of the authorities to carry out reforms will deepen the crisis, intensify radicalism in society and dramatically increase the likelihood of political and social turmoil that threatens the public and national interest.

To prevent these dangerous trends, the authors claim it is necessary to consolidate democratic forces.

The Forum of Intellectuals also demanded the immediate release of the activist of the party Musavat Nigar Yagublu, the blogger Zaur Gurbanli, the journalist Avaz Zeynalli, human right defenders Hilal Mammadov and Vidadi Iskenderli and all other political prisoners.-05D06-