Press Review 05/09/2017

State newspapers publish lengthy materials about former President Heydar Aliyev on the eve of the 94th anniversary of his birth. The focus of the non-government press is the problem of IDPs, reduction of personnel in the banking sector, and the situation in the courts.

The Azerbaijan in the article The Greatest Azerbaijani (http://www.azerbaijan-news.az/index.php?mod=3&id=121558) praises the role of Heydar Aliyev in the formation of Azerbaijani statehood and today ‘strong Azerbaijan is the fruit of self-sacrifice of Heydar Aliyev for the benefit of the people and the motherland.’

The Echo in the article Banks in Azerbaijan Bring Employees Up to Their Dismissal on Their Own (http://ru.echo.az/?p=59275) raises problems of mass layoffs in the banking sector.

The Financial Market Supervisory Authority of Azerbaijan reported that as of April 1, 2017, the number of employees of the banking sector of Azerbaijan was 16,312 people. The analysis of figures shows that in March the banking sector was left by 350 people.

“Sometimes banks deliberately cut salaries for their employees to bring them to dismissal on their own initiative. For example, employees whose income previously amounted to 2,000 manats have been reduced their salary to 700 manats,” Samir Aliyev said.

In his opinion, in the near future the Azerbaijani market will be left by several more banks, and some credit organizations will unite, which will affect the reduction of bank employees.

The Yeni Musavat (http://musavat.com/news/40-aile-zibillikler-arasinda-gizledilir-bize-ayrilan-vesaitler-memurlarin-cibindedir-reportaj-video-fotolar_436596.html) writes about the conditions that cannot be tolerated by 40 families of internally displaced persons living near Lake Ganly-Gel. This area belongs to the demolition zone. Resettlement of people began three years ago. But 40 families are not provided with housing and are forced to live next to the ruins and garbage dump.

The Novoye Vremya in the article Crime and Punishment: When Does Impartiality Become the Norm of Domestic Justice? focuses on the problem of the judiciary (http://www.novoye-vremya.com/w91265/.../#.WRC6bYiLTIU).

The author notes that at times many people, including ex-officials, realize too late that an independent judiciary and fair justice are the guarantee of protecting any person from lawlessness. “After all, being in office, these dignitaries did not think about it at all. Moreover, they themselves repeatedly violated the laws, from which tens of thousands of ordinary citizens suffered,” the article notes.

Examples are former officers of the MNS, ex-head of the International Bank Jahangir Hajiyev, who are in the dock now.

On the other hand, a fair trial is a guarantee of respect for human rights. “By the way, if we had such justice, then it is unlikely that so many people would suffer from the criminal lawlessness of the above-mentioned leadership of the Ministry of National Security or the same International Bank,” the article reads.

Corruption and engagement of domestic courts is striking. Bribery and corruption prevail in the consideration of criminal and civil cases, and in politically motivated trials the order "from above" and "telephone law" are the cause of bias. In such cases, judges do not even try to understand the essence of what is happening.

In order to avoid damage to the image of the country, it is necessary to start reforming the judicial system of Azerbaijan as soon as possible, to bring it to the standards of fair justice, where impartiality is the norm, the article stresses. -0-